ENVIRONMENT FOOD AND RURAL AFFAIRS

Bovine TB

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment she has made of the level of illegal culling of badgers by farmers as a method of controlling the spread of bovine TB; and if she will make a statement.

Ben Bradshaw: Information about the level of illegal culling of badgers by farmers is not generally available. However, the Independent Scientific Group on cattle TB is monitoring suspected unlawful activities within the survey areas of the Randomised Badger Culling Trial. Within those areas, seven suspected incidents of illegal badger culling have been identified since February 2002 and reported to the police authorities.

Bovine TB

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make a statement on the recent meeting between the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Local Environment, Marine and Animal Welfare and the South West National Farmers Union on bovine tuberculosis.

Ben Bradshaw: I met representatives of the South West National Farmers Union on 16 June to discuss the problem of bovine tuberculosis in cattle. This was a positive and constructive discussion. The NFU outlined a number of ideas, subsequently published in a national NFU document on 4 July 2005. The NFU document will be considered as the Government develops its TB strategy as will cost benefit analysis work based on the Irish badger culling trials and other data.

Climate Change

Colin Challen: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs pursuant to the statement by the hon. Member for Scunthorpe on 29 June 2005, Official Report, column 1376, what assessment her Department has made of the Pew Centre report on climate change.

Elliot Morley: The report I referred to is International Climate Efforts Beyond 2012: A Survey of Approaches" by the Pew Centre on Global Climate Change which was published in December 2004. The report offers a broad survey of alternative approaches for international climate change efforts beyond 2012 and is therefore a useful background document.
	The report describes more than 40 proposals for a future climate change regime either published or publicly presented in recent years. Some of these proposals are comprehensive in nature, setting forth a complete approach for a future regime. Others address a particular issue in the negotiations.
	The report starts with a very useful overview of core issues in designing and negotiating future international climate efforts. The second section suggests criteria that could be used in assessing alternative approaches. The third section describes how the different proposals seek to address the core issues identified earlier. The fourth section then summarises each proposal. The report does not make judgments about individual proposals.

Cormorants

Angela Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when she expects to publish the Central Science Laboratory's cormorant population model; and whether the model will be published in a peer-reviewed journal.

Jim Knight: The cormorant model produced by the Central Science Laboratory is already available on the Defra website http://www.defra.gov.uk/wildlife-countryside/vertebrates/piscivorous.htm#cormorants together with comments from independent peer reviewers. The model is currently being updated in the light of more recent information on the trend in cormorant numbers following a short contract to The British Trust for Ornithology. A paper describing the model and its application will be submitted to a peer reviewed scientific journal this autumn.

Fishing Licences

Michael Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the value of rod licence sales has been in each region in England and Wales since 2000.

Ben Bradshaw: The information requested is as follows:
	
		Rod licence sales 2000–01 to 2004–05
		
			  2001–01 2001–02 2002–03 
			  Number Income (£) Number Income (£) Number Income (£) 
		
		
			 Anglian 170,525 2,203,779 180,490 2,322,255 180,637 2,472,067 
			 Midlands 223,727 2,883,144 234,736 2,972,015 240,897 3,226,235 
			 N. East 150,182 1,921,645 150,364 1,877,586 160,101 2,099,149 
			 N. West 115,633 1,667,808 115,689 1,582,431 119,535 1,775,397 
			 S. West 77,881 1,025,145 81,192 1,027,946 79,902 1,087,743 
			 Southern 93,015 1,169,381 100,320 1,223,309 106,534 1,367,112 
			 Thames 173,245 2,297,131 181,492 2,392,807 199,545 2,691,077 
			 Welsh 62,339 922,744 63,156 857,911 61,520 939,239 
			 Others 19,883 328,285 37,340 612,462 39,729 450,779 
			 Total 1,086,430 14,419,060 1,144,779 14,868,720 1,188,400 16,108,795 
		
	
	
		
			  2003–04 2004–05 
			  Number Income (£) Number Income (£) 
		
		
			 Anglian 192,986 2,778,349 186,949 2,873,141 
			 Midlands 254,811 3,584,736 237,996 3,615,985 
			 N. East 170,842 2,342,215 164,197 2,416,992 
			 N. West 125,711 1,962,661 122,238 2,038,813 
			 S. West 84,559 1,223,408 81,482 1,263,371 
			 Southern 112,778 1,538,838 109,631 1,586,957 
			 Thames 210,585 2,969,776 202,154 3,052,041 
			 Welsh 64,767 1,042,057 63,773 1,072,348 
			 Others 44,888 562,566 49,798 673,582 
			 Total 1,261,927 18,004,606 1,218,218 18,593,227 
		
	
	Source:
	Environment Agency

Livestock Industry

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make a statement on the future of the livestock industry, with specific reference to the cattle disease compensation tables.

Ben Bradshaw: At present, the amount of compensation paid for cattle slaughtered as a consequence of a disease outbreak varies according to the disease involved. The Government intend to introduce a consistent approach to determining compensation payments across four cattle diseases (bovine TB, brucellosis, BSE and Enzootic Bovine Leukosis) during 2005. Information is being collected on real market prices in order to allow the payment of compensation on the basis of table valuations.
	Payments that reflect actual market prices being achieved for healthy animals of the same category will be fair to both the farmer and the taxpayer, as the proposed new arrangements will address the overvaluation of cattle slaughtered because of bovine TB, the evidence for which is extensive.

Nappies

Bill Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what proportion disposable nappies represented of total municipal solid waste in the last year for which figures are available; and what estimate she has made of the contribution the landfilling of disposable nappies made to the production of greenhouse gases by the UK in that year.

Ben Bradshaw: We do not collect information on the amount of disposable nappies used nor of the disposal route.
	The Strategy Unit report Waste Not Want Not" estimated that in 2000–01 nappies comprised around 2 per cent. of household waste, equivalent to 350,000 tonnes. In 2003–04 72 per cent. of our household waste was sent to landfill and just under 9 per cent. went to incineration.
	The Environment Agency have estimated that disposable nappies contribute 0.02 per cent. to the production of greenhouse gases by the UK.

Nappies

Bill Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much public money has been spent on reusable nappy schemes in the last five years, broken down by (a) scheme and (b) amount.

Ben Bradshaw: Information on local authority reusable nappy schemes is not held centrally.
	The cost of the reusable nappy programme managed by the Waste and Resources Action Programme is £2.8 million for the three years from 2003–06.

Nappies

Bill Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs 
	(1)  for how long she expects funding to continue for reusable nappies as part of the WRAP Real Nappy Programme;
	(2)  how much funding has been made available for the WRAP Real Nappy Programme to date; and whether the Government plans to continue funding this programme after April 2006.

Ben Bradshaw: The current funding with WRAP finishes the end of March 2006. We are currently in discussion with WRAP about their programmes, including the Real Nappy Work after this date.
	The cost of the re-usable nappy programme managed by WRAP is £2.8 million for the three years 2003–06.

Nappies

Bill Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many tonnes of disposable nappy waste have been diverted by WRAP's Real Nappy Programme to date; how this figure was calculated; what percentage of new re-usable users under the programme continued to use re-usables; and what methodology was used to count them.

Ben Bradshaw: The aim of the WRAP programme is to convert 155,000 households to re-usable nappies by April 2006, thereby diverting 35,000 tonnes per annum of disposable nappy waste from landfill.
	The main features of the programme are pump priming grant aid for small and medium enterprises and new entrants to the nappy laundering business, combined with promotional initiatives targeted at new parents. It is too soon to evaluate the effectiveness of each activity, but funded schemes are reporting progress quarterly, and the benefits of national awareness-raising and advertising will be captured in opinion research to be conducted at the end of the year.

Recycling

Kevan Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if her Department will take steps to encourage the (a) reduction, (b) re-use and (c) recycling of plastic carrier bags.

Ben Bradshaw: The waste strategy for England and Wales—Waste Strategy 2000—emphasises the need to gain more value from waste through re-use, recycling, composting and the recovery of energy. Government are already encouraging retailers to work with the Waste and Resources Action Programme (WRAP) to address levels of plastic bag consumption, and have asked WRAP to investigate the feasibility of a national Bag for Life scheme as part of their Waste Minimisation Programme. Some of the large supermarket chains have already introduced Bag for Life, whereby a charge is made to the customer for a strong and durable plastic bag which is replaced by the retailer when it eventually wears out. The scheme encourages a change in behaviour through the reuse of bags, and the plastic from worn-out bags is recycled. WRAP is investigating the implementation of such a scheme on a national basis.

Smoking

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what estimate the Government have made of the effect of a public smoking ban on cigarette litter in the streets.

Ben Bradshaw: Government have not made any estimate of the effect a ban on smoking in public would have on cigarette litter in the streets. However, restrictions on smoking in the workplace do appear to have increased the amount of such litter. The Local Environmental Quality Survey of England, conducted by ENCAMS on behalf of Defra, monitors the prevalence of smoking-related litter, including cigarette ends, cigarette packages, matches and lighters, based on an assessment of over 10,000 sample sites. Over the first three years of the survey, there has been an overall increase in the proportion of sites that have some form of smoking-related litter present:
	
		
			  Percentage of sites 
		
		
			 2001–02 63 
			 2002–03 60 
			 2003–04 79 
		
	
	Defra is already taking action to reduce smoking-related litter. Section 27 of the Clean Neighbourhoods and Environment Act 2005, which came into force on 7 June, provides clarification that smoking-related materials are litter for the purposes of part 4 of the Environmental Protection Act 1990. Therefore offenders can be prosecuted or issued with a fixed penalty notice. In February next year, ENCAMS will be launching a public awareness campaign aimed at reducing cigarette butt litter, encouraging smokers to take greater responsibility for the litter they create. In addition, the campaign will specifically look to employers who allow their staff to smoke outside their premises to provide practical means of disposing of cigarette ends responsibly.

Waste Strategy

Bill Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps she is taking to educate the public on the role of energy from waste combustion as part of the Waste Strategy.

Ben Bradshaw: Waste Strategy 2000 sets out the Government's aim to minimise waste and recover value from waste in line with the waste hierarchy. Energy from waste has an important role to play, but public education and engagement to date has mainly focused on activities that the public can directly participate in, such as waste minimisation, reuse and recycling. DEFRA has published an independent study into the environmental and health effects of waste management, to improve understanding of waste treatment options including energy from waste. In both their waste management and land use planning functions local authorities should engage their communities when planning for energy from waste or other facilities.

Waste Strategy

Bill Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when she expects the 10 demonstration plants to encourage new technologies to treat biodegradable municipal waste will begin operating.

Ben Bradshaw: The first demonstration plants for more innovative waste management practices, run in partnership with industry and local authorities, will begin operating in 2006. However, lead times will vary in individual cases, depending on local circumstances and the different kinds of technologies involved.
	The package of measures put in place by DEFRA to encourage technological innovation also includes current work to: disseminate expertise and advice to local authorities and the waste industry; establish a programme of longer-term research into alternative options for dealing with residual waste; and provide extensive guidance on alternative technology options already used successfully in other countries.

Waste Strategy

Bill Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what mechanism is used to monitor compliance by EU member states with the (a) 2006, (b) 2009 and (c) 2016 biodegradable municipal waste diversion targets of Article 5 of the Landfill Directive; and what recent information she has received on the extent of compliance in each case.

Ben Bradshaw: The monitoring authorities in the four constituent countries of the UK will use a 'mass balance calculation' to monitor the amount of biodegradable municipal waste sent to landfill in any year by each waste disposal authority. The mass balance approach calculates the amount of biodegradable waste landfilled by subtracting the weight of biodegradable materials diverted from landfill from the local authority's total biodegradable waste arisings.
	The Government are currently undertaking an information gathering project with the LGA and other local government stakeholders to assess the current and future diversion capacity in England. The information from this project will give a clear indication about how the targets are being met. The intention is to review this project annually, to allow the Government to closely monitor and evaluate progress towards the targets.
	Each EU member state is able to choose the mechanism to demonstrate compliance with Article 5(2) of the Landfill Directive and the UK is not aware of the methods chosen by other member states. I am not aware of any mechanism to monitor compliance prior to each target year.
	The details requested by the hon. Member on the extent of compliance by EU member states with Article 5(2) of the Landfill Directive has been published in the Report from the Commission ... on the national strategies for the reduction of biodegradable municipal waste going to landfills pursuant to Article 5(1) of the Directive 1999/31/EC on the landfill of waste; reference COM(2005) 105 final". The report is available at http://www.wales.gov.uk/keypubassemeuropeancomm2/content/euleg050411/index-e.htm. In summary, Austria, Denmark, Germany, the Netherlands and the Flemish Region already fulfil the targets set by the directive or have already taken the necessary measures to fulfil them.

Waste Strategy

Bill Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment she has made of the performance of (a) the Government, (b) the Environment Agency and (c) the waste management industry in raising awareness amongst producers of hazardous waste of the application of hazardous waste acceptance criteria from 16 July.

Ben Bradshaw: As part of the programme to implement the requirements of the Landfill and Hazardous Waste Directives (the 'LHIP'), Government and the Environment Agency put in place a communications group to coordinate actions to raise awareness of the controls, especially amongst hazardous waste producers. The waste industry has been closely involved both with this group and the wider Hazardous Waste Forum.
	The programme involves a considerable number of actions by all players, including the provision of advice and guidance by the agency, industry and Envirowise, the organisation of seminars, and the production of leaflets and a dedicated website.
	While no specific assessment of the performance of these communications activities has been undertaken, the Environment Agency has recently conducted an awareness survey of more than 1,000 small and medium sized businesses in England and Wales in 10 key sectors. The results of the survey will enable further communication activities to concentrate on certain sectors and for priority to be given to channels of communication and products considered to be most effective.

Waste Strategy

Bill Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether the Government support the use of mechanical biological treatment as part of the Waste Strategy.

Ben Bradshaw: Waste Strategy 2000 sets out the Government's aim to minimise waste and recover value from waste in line with the waste hierarchy. It includes targets to increase material recovery through recycling and composting, but does not support any particular technology to achieve them. Local authorities also have targets to divert biodegradable municipal waste from landfill under the landfill allowances trading scheme. Local authorities are responsible for and best placed to decide the most appropriate waste management facilities for their areas, based on local circumstances and their statutory obligations.

Waste Fats

John Whittingdale: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs 
	(1)  what measures the Government are taking to prevent the accumulation of fats, oil and grease in the sewerage system;
	(2)  what measures the Government are taking to prevent the discharge of fats, oil and grease in to drains by supermarkets and catering establishments;
	(3)  if she will make it her policy to require supermarkets and catering establishments to install grease retention equipment;
	(4)  what assessment she has made of the cost to watercompanies of clearing accumulated fats, oil and grease;
	(5)  how many prosecutions have taken place under the Water Act 2003 Section III (1) for the discharge of fats, oil and grease into the sewerage system.

Elliot Morley: Sewerage undertakers have powers to control and reduce discharges of fat and oil into sewers. It is an offence under section 111 of the 1991 Act for a person to empty into a sewer, or any drain or sewer connecting with a public sewer, matter which is likely to injure, cause a nuisance to, or interfere with the free flow of the sewer or drain's contents, or to affect the treatment and disposal of its contents.
	Sewerage undertakers are expected to take action where problems arise and to encourage appropriate preventative measures. In problem areas sewerage undertakers may work with local authority environmental health officers to identify suspect premises. In some areas there are voluntary schemes for installing grease control measures. At present there is no intention to require supermarkets and catering establishments to install grease retention equipment.
	The Government do not assess the cost of clearing accumulated fats, oil and grease separately from the overall costs of operating and maintaining sewers and sewage treatment works. The Office of Water Services reports on these overall costs in its annual 'Financial performance and expenditure of the water companies in England and Wales' report.
	My Department does not hold information on prosecutions under the Water Act Section III (1) for the discharge of fats, oil and grease into the sewerage system.

Zoo Licences

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what her timetable is for producing a database of zoo licences in England.

Jim Knight: My Department established a database of zoo licences in England last year. A summary of the information compiled was published on my Department's website in March this year and can be found at http://www.defra.gov.uk/wildlife-countryside/gwd/pdf/zoos-list0503.pdf. The website will be updated later this year.

CULTURE MEDIA AND SPORT

Sickness Absence

David Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many days the Department has lost due to sickness in the past five years for which figures are available.

Richard Caborn: Cabinet Office publishes an annual report Analysis of Sickness Absence in the Civil Service. The most recently published figures for the calendar year 2003 were announced by Ministerial Statement on 1 November 2004, and copies placed in the Libraries of the House.
	DCMS is committed to managing sickness absence effectively building on best practice in the public sector. This includes a health and welfare programme, stress management guidance, a full range of flexible work patterns to support work-life balance, access to welfare services, an onsite gym and yoga classes.

Swimming Pools

Sarah Teather: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport pursuant to the Answer of 30 June 2005, Official Report, column 1658W, on swimming pools, how many of the swimming pools mentioned were provided by (a) public and (b) private operators.

Richard Caborn: The table identifies how many of the swimming pools in London are owned by local authorities, by commercial companies or by other organisations.
	
		
			  Ownership type 
			 London borough Public Private Other (eg school; health authority) Unknown Total number of pools 
		
		
			 Barking and Dagenham 5 2 1 — 8 
			 Barnet 7 13 2 — 22 
			 Bexley 9 5 — — 14 
			 Brent 5 3 — — 8 
			 Bromley 14 9 5 — 28 
			 Camden 10 11 4 — 25 
			 City of London 2 11 1 — 14 
			 Croydon 8 10 7 3 28 
			 Ealing 7 14 4 1 26 
			 Enfield 9 3 4 — 16 
			 Greenwich 12 2 2 — 16 
			 Hackney 3 2 — — 5 
			 Hammersmith and Fulham 3 9 6 — 18 
			 Haringey 9 4 3 — 16 
			 Harrow 4 2 5 — 11 
			 Havering 4 2 5 1 12 
			 Hillingdon 5 11 4 — 20 
			 Hounslow 10 6 — — 16 
			 Islington 9 5 — — 14 
			 Kensington and Chelsea 5 11 — — 16 
			 Kingston upon Thames 4 7 — 1 12 
			 Lambeth 7 3 — 1 11 
			 Lewisham 7 1 1 — 9 
			 Merton 6 6 2 — 14 
			 Newham 8 2 — — 10 
			 Redbridge 5 2 4 — 11 
			 Richmond 7 6 6 — 19 
			 Southwark 6 4 6 1 17 
			 Sutton 3 5 3 1 12 
			 Tower Hamlets 6 5 — — 11 
			 Waltham Forest 9 3 3 — 15 
			 Wandsworth 11 4 5 — 20 
			 Westminster 7 26 7 — 40

TRANSPORT

Biofuels

John Pugh: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many licensed British vehicles are adapted to run on biofuels.

Stephen Ladyman: This information is not available.

Bridge Strengthening (Costs)

Kelvin Hopkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what costs (a) have been and (b) are expected to be incurred in strengthening bridges by (i)the Highways Agency, (ii) Railtrack and (iii) local authorities to cater for the introduction of (A) 38 tonne, (B) 40 tonne and (C) 44 tonne lorries.

Stephen Ladyman: Strengthening bridges to carry 38 tonne and 44 tonne lorries is subsumed in strengthening to carry 40 tonne lorries with 11.5 tonne axle loads as this is more demanding in engineering terms.
	The Highways Agency has so far spent £590 million in strengthening motorway and trunk road bridges to carry 40 tonne lorries, and currently expects to spend a further £80 million before the programme is completed.
	There is no obligation on Network Rail (the successor to Railtrack) to strengthen its bridges carrying roads to accommodate 40 tonne lorries. If this carrying capacity was required, it would be for the local highway authority to provide the funding.
	The costs of local highway authorities in strengthening bridges to carry 40 tonne lorries are not collated centrally. However, since 2001 the Department for Transport has provided £147 million to local authorities in England outside London to strengthen bridges on their primary routes to take these vehicles. Local authorities bid for this funding on an annual basis through their annual progress reports on their local transport plans.

Crossrail

John Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what estimate he has made of the likely cost of the Crossrail project; what assessment has been made of the cost-effectiveness of the project; and if he will make a statement.

Derek Twigg: holding answer 7 July 2005
	The latest estimate of the cost of Crossrail is contained in the Estimate of Expense submitted with the Crossrail hybrid Bill. A review of the Crossrail project Review of the Crossrail Business Case", which included an assessment of the costs and benefits of the project, was published by the Department for Transport in July 2004.
	Subsequent assessments have confirmed that the benefits of the project can be expected to outweigh the costs. The Department for Transport's latest assessment using its existing appraisal methodology is that the project would have a benefit to cost ratio of between 1.6:1 and 1.8:1.

Diesel Vehicles

John Pugh: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what proportion of the British lorry and commercial vehicle fleet is powered by diesel fuel.

Stephen Ladyman: As at 31 March 2005, 65 per cent. of licensed commercial vehicles other than lorries were powered by diesel fuel. For lorries the proportion was 99 per cent.

Driving Tests

Michael Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport pursuant to the answer of 11 July 2005, Official Report, column 668W, how many (a) passes and (b) failures of motor car driving tests there were in each test centre in Worcestershire in each of the last five years.

Stephen Ladyman: The table shows the results of practical car driving tests conducted at test centres in Worcestershire in each of the last five years.
	
		Motor car driving test pass/fail stats 2000–05 in Worcestershire
		
			  Fail Pass Total Percentage pass 
		
		
			 Worcester DTC  
			 2000–01 2,368 1,987 4,355 45.6 
			 2001–02 2,430 2,379 4,809 49.5 
			 2002–03 2,436 2,378 4,814 49.4 
			 2003–04 2,868 2,729 5,597 48.8 
			 2004–05 3,961 3,150 7,111 44.3 
			  
			 Kidderminster DTC  
			 2000–01 1,463 1,455 2,918 49.9 
			 2001–02 1,388 1,561 2,949 52.9 
			 2002–03 1,631 1,839 3,470 53.0 
			 2003–04 2,166 1,856 4,022 46.1 
			 2004–05 3,006 2,522 5,528 45.6 
			  
			 Redditch DTC   
			 2000–01 1,592 1,507 3,099 48.6 
			 2001–02 1,666 1,457 3,123 46.7 
			 2002–03 1,914 1,577 3,491 45.2 
			 2003–04 2,158 1,685 3,843 43.8 
			 2004–05 2,747 1,872 4,619 40.5

Liquefied Petroleum Gas

John Pugh: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what percentage of (a) private vehicles and (b) commercial vehicles are adapted to run on LPG fuel.

Stephen Ladyman: This information is not available.

Night Flights (Heathrow)

Vincent Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what caused the disruption that led to an increase in flights leaving London Heathrow between 23.30 and 06.00 on the night of (a) 29 June and (b) 19 June; and if he will make a statement.

Karen Buck: The information requested is as follows.
	(a) On the nights of 28/29 June and 29/30 June there was an increase in departures from Heathrow due to severe weather (including hail and thunderstorms) which significantly affected air traffic across British, European, Oceanic and some Trans Atlantic routes. This contributed to severe terminal congestion at Heathrow.
	(b) On the afternoon and evening of 19 June there were severe delays to aircraft using Heathrow due to computer software problems at the Air Traffic Control Centre at Swanwick which led to air traffic flow restrictions. This necessitated more aircraft than usual being allowed to take-off and to land after 11.30 pm. The problems were resolved by the following morning.
	The rules under which aircraft may be granted dispensations from the night restrictions have applied for many years. They were confirmed as part of the present night restrictions regime at Heathrow, Gatwick and Stansted announced on 10 June 1999.

Rail Services

Linda Riordan: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when the review of train services across the Northern train franchise region will be completed.

Derek Twigg: The review has been under way for some months now. We anticipate development of detailed options over the summer which would be fully consulted upon towards the end of the year.

Road Schemes

Colin Challen: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the (a) expected cost when first submitted for approval and (b) most recently-estimated or final cost is of each road scheme (i) in the Targeted Programme of Improvements and (ii) submitted for funding through the Local Transport Plan Process between 1999–2000 and 2004–05.

Stephen Ladyman: The information requested has been placed in the Libraries of both Houses.

Speed Cameras

Lee Scott: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how much money has been collected in fines from motorists as a result of the speed camera at the southern end of the M11.

Stephen Ladyman: The Department's information on fines following offences detected by safety cameras relates to the totals for safety camera partnerships, and not to individual camera sites. Information on the total fine receipts and number of fines for each partnership for the latest audited year 2003–04 is available on the Department's website of responses to freedom of information requests.

Speed Cameras

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many speed cameras are planned for each side of the A102 between the A11 and the A13.

Stephen Ladyman: The Department is not aware of any proposals to implement further speed camera sites on the A102 at the present time.

Speed Cameras

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list the locations of the speed cameras on both sides of the (a) A13 and (b) A127 between the M25 and Southend; and if he will list the planned locations of new speed cameras for both sides of the (i) A13 and (ii) A127 between the M25 and Southend.

Stephen Ladyman: The information is not held by the Department. The Essex Safety Camera Partnership publishes details of the number and location of all safety camera sites, available through its website www.essexsafetycameras.co.uk.
	The Department is not aware of any proposals to implement further speed, camera sites on either the A13 or A127 at the present time.

V5 Registration

Bill Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will (a) extend the deadline for replacement of V5 registration certificates and (b) publicise the need for replacement licences through additional channels.

Stephen Ladyman: The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency and its agents will continue to accept V5 registration documents supporting registration or licensing activities, provided the document is the last one issued.
	The introduction of the new V5 registration certificate to meet EU requirements has already been the subject of an extensive publicity campaign. Advertisements have featured in a television campaign, the national and motoring press, as well as on major on-line sites. Information leaflets explaining the initiative have also been dispatched with DVLA mail. There are no plans to publicise the scheme further.

V5 Registration

Bill Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what estimate he has made of the number of vehicle owners who should have applied for the new V5C licence have not done so.

Stephen Ladyman: The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency estimated that as of 1 June 2005, the number of old style V5 Vehicle Registration Documents remaining to be converted to the V5C Registration Certificate was approximately 800,000 (accounting for about 2.5 per cent. of vehicle keepers).

V5 Registration

Bill Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will arrange for people whose vehicles which have been off the road since before Statutory Off Road Notification was introduced, and are exempted from Vehicle Excise Duty, to apply for a free replacement of the V5 registration by a EU model V5C registration certificate.

Stephen Ladyman: The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency has already made arrangements for all vehicle keepers who have not received the V5C registration certificate to be able to exchange their old V5 registration document free of charge. If a keeper is unable to produce the old V5 registration document, a fee of £19 is payable.

TREASURY

Constituency Statistics

Clive Betts: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list for each parliamentary constituency the ratio of those aged 18 years and over at the last census to the number of registered electors, in order of the size of the ratio.

John Healey: holding answer 12 July 2005
	The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician who has been asked to reply.
	Letter from Jil Matheson to Mr. Clive Betts, dated 14 July 2005
	The National Statistician has been asked to reply to your recent parliamentary question concerning the ratio of the population, aged 18 and over, recorded in the 2001 census to the number of residents who were registered to vote in each parliamentary constituency. I am replying in his absence. (10815)
	I am placing in the House of Commons Library, a table supplying the requested information.
	In order to give an estimate of the number of electors on census day (29 April 2001), a weighted average is taken of the 1 February 2001 and 1 December 2001 electoral data. Data are given for parliamentary electorates. Data for the local/European electorate, by parliamentary constituency are not readily available for 2001
	It should be noted that the ratio of residents who are registered to vote in each constituency is not a reliable estimate of the registration rate of the eligible population: the resident population aged 18 and over is not the same as the number of people eligible to vote.
	The UK parliamentary electorate excludes residents of countries other than the UK and the Commonwealth and includes UK citizens resident abroad. In addition not everyone who is usually resident is entitled to vote (foreign citizens from outside of the EU and Commonwealth, prisoners, etc. are not eligible) and people who have more than one address may register in more than one place. Also there is inevitably some double counting of the registered electorate as electoral registration officers vary in how quickly they remove people from the registers after they have moved away from an area or after they have died. This latter is the main reason why in some constituencies the population aged 18 and over is less than those registered to vote. These factors may have a different impact from place to place.
	Furthermore, you should note that the Office for National Statistics (ONS) has revised the mid-2001 population estimates since the publication of the 2001 census results. In September 2003, revisions were made that added approximately 193,000 to the population of England and Wales. This revision primarily related to the addition of a number of young males that were not captured by the census. In September 2004, ONS made further revisions as a result of concluding studies designed to improve population estimates in the areas that proved hardest to count in the 2001 census in England and Wales. The results of this work showed that the one number census (ONC) worked well in most areas, but that there were a few cases where it was not able sufficiently to adjust for exceptional circumstances. The analysis showed that there was a need for revisions to the 2001 census based population figures of around 107,000 for England and Wales as a whole. The adjustments were included in the new mid-year population estimates for 2001, published in 2004. The census database itself was not revised following the publication of these adjustments. More details on these issues can be found at: www.statistics.gov.uk/lastudies .
	Any comparison of these data with figures for other years should be made carefully as electoral legislation and other changes (such as EU expansion) can change the size of the electorate.

Council Tax (Wales)

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what use the Valuation Office Agency made of private sector firms during the council tax revaluation in Wales.

Dawn Primarolo: The Valuation Office Agency did not make use of private sector firms during the council tax revaluation in Wales

Departmental Purchasing

Chris Grayling: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list the companies from which his Department has purchased goods and services of a total value above £1 million in each of the last three years; and how much was spent in respect of each company.

John Healey: The information for the Treasury including the Debt Management Office is set out in the following table:
	
		£000
		
			  2002–03 2003–04 2004–05 
		
		
			 Exchequer Partnership plc 10,139 19,020 19,328 
			 Partnerships UK plc 1,788 4,239 3,915 
			 Stationery Office Ltd. 1,529 1,918 (1)— 
			 Robson Associates 1,247 1,129 1,235 
			 Computacenter (UK) Ltd. (1)— (1)— 1,841 
			 Paymaster (1836) Ltd. (1)— (1)— 1,091 
		
	
	(1)Value of purchases in that year was less than £1 million.
	Notes:
	1.All figures are inclusive of VAT.
	2.The Treasury and the Debt Management Office have a combined accounts payable function so the figures include purchases by either body.

Earning (Tees Valley)

Vera Baird: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the average weekly earnings is of a (a) male and (b) female full-time worker in (i) Tees Valley and (ii)the UK in the last period for which figures are available.

John Healey: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician who has been asked to reply.
	Letter from Len Cook to Vera Baird, dated 14 July 2005
	As National Statistician, I have been asked to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question asking what were the average weekly earnings of a (a) male and (b) female full-time worker in (i) Tees Valley and (ii) the UK. (11903)
	Average earnings are estimated from the Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings and are provided for employees on adult rates of pay whose pay was unaffected by absence during the pay period, by their place of work. This is the standard definition used for Annual Survey of Hours and Earning tables. The Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings does not collect data on the self employed and people who do unpaid work.
	I attach a table showing the average gross weekly earnings for full-time employees in Tees Valley, the constituent Unitary Authorities of Tees Valley and the United Kingdom in 2004. The Unitary Authority and UK statistics are also available on the National Statistics website on table 7: http://www.statistics.gov.uk/STATBASE/Product.asp?vlnk=13101
	The Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings, carried out in April of each year, is the most comprehensive source of earnings information in the United Kingdom. It has a one per cent. sample of all employees.
	
		Means and medians for full-time male and female employees in the United Kingdom, Tees Valley and unitary authoritiesin the Tees Valley area
		
			  Median CV (percentage)(2) Mean CV (percentage)(2) 
		
		
			 Male 
			 United Kingdom 462.0 0.2 556.8 0.3 
			 Tees Valley 426.8 4.2 496.6 3.0 
			 Darlington UA 413.6 9.4 459.8 5.3 
			 Hartlepool UA 372.7 15.0 472.5 9.6 
			 Middlesbrough UA 392.8 6.1 474.2 7.4 
			 Redcar and Cleveland UA 514.8 6.4 537.3 5.4 
			 Stockton-on-Tees UA 436.7 6.3 519.8 6.0 
			  
			 Female 
			 United Kingdom 358.0 0.4 420.2 0.3 
			 Tees Valley 306.1 4.9 354.0 3.8 
			 Darlington UA 321.5 8.7 339.1 4.9 
			 Hartlepool UA 250.2 15.0 286.9 10.0 
			 Middlesbrough UA 319.4 11.0 372.9 5.1 
			 Redcar and Cleveland UA 297.5 16.0 397.9 17.0 
			 Stockton-on-Tees UA 283.9 9.5 341.2 5.9 
		
	
	(2) Guide to quality:
	The Coefficient of Variation (CV) is given to indicate the quality of a figure, the smaller the CV value the higher the quality.
	The true value is likely to lie within +/- twice the CV e.g. for an average of 200 with a CV of 5 per cent. we would expect the population average to be within the range 180 to 220.
	Notes:
	1.The Annual purvey of Hours and Earnings, (ASHE), carried out in April of each year, is the most comprehensive source of earnings information in the United Kingdom. It is a 1 per cent. sample of all employees.
	2.The ASHE replaces the New Earnings Survey (NES) from October 2004. The main difference between the ASHE and NES being that estimates are weighted to population totals from the Labour Force Survey.
	3.Average gross weekly earnings for adult full-time employees whose pay for the survey period was not affected by absence.
	Source:
	Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings, ONS

GM Crops

Michael Meacher: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what action the UK Government have taken (a) to detect animal feed shipments contaminated with the unapproved BX10 variety of GM maize, (b) to prevent such illegal shipments from reaching the UK and (c) to train and equip UK port authorities to detect unapproved GM contaminants in food and feed imports.

Caroline Flint: I have been asked to reply.
	The detection method and reference material which was provided by the European Commission's Joint Research Centre to allow testing by member states has been forwarded to public analyst laboratories in the United Kingdom which will carry out testing for local authorities. To date, two local authorities have reported negative results for analysis carried out on imports for Btl0.
	The requirement for certification of United States of America imports is in place, following the introduction of national regulations setting out the necessary enforcement powers at the end of April. Before this date, enforcement bodies were able to use general food safety powers to detain imports of the relevant products. consignments were released when the importer provided evidence that Btl0 was not present.
	UK enforcement officers authorised to inspect, detain or seize food or feed are required to have specific qualifications and training. General enforcement guidance on the control of imported food and feed and, specific advice on the control of unapproved Btl0 genetically modified contamination has also been issued by the Food Standards Agency (FSA) to the relevant enforcement authorities. Analysis and detection of GM contamination would be carried out by the public analyst or agricultural analyst formally appointed by the local enforcement authority.
	The FSA will carry out its own surveillance work and plans for this are currently being developed. The outcome of this work will be used to inform the Commission's review of this new requirement in October.

Household Numbers

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will estimate the number of households in (a) England, (b) Wales, (c) Scotland and (d) Northern Ireland, broken down by Government Office Region.

John Healey: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician who has been asked to reply.
	Letter from Colin Mowl to Mrs. Caroline Spelman, dated 14 July 2005
	The National Statistician and Registrar General for England and Wales has been asked to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question asking for an estimate of the number of households in (a) England, (b) Wales, (c) Scotland and (d) Northern Ireland, broken down by Government Office Region for the most recent year for which figures are available. I am replying in his absence. (12012)
	The 2001 Census provides the most recent figures available for the number of households. Government Office Regions only occur in England, but Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland are regarded as an equivalent for statistical purposes. The attached table shows the number of households in each Government Office Region in England and the total households for Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. The figures have been extracted from Table S027 in the Census 2001 National Report, which provides household figures.
	
		Number of households in each Government Office Region in England and total households for Wales, Scotland andNorthern Ireland, from 2001 Census
		
			 Area All households 
		
		
			 North-east 1,066,292 
			 North-west 2,812,789 
			 Yorkshire and The Humber 2,064,748 
			 East Midlands 1,732,482 
			 West Midlands 2,153,672 
			 East 2,231,974 
			 London 3,015,997 
			 South-east 3,287,489 
			 South-west 2,085,984 
			 Wales 1,209,048 
			 Scotland 2,192,246 
			 Northern Ireland 626,718 
		
	
	Source:
	Table S027 Census 2001 National Report.

Inland Revenue

Neil Gerrard: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what steps he (a) has taken and (b) proposes to take to ensure that the provisions of the Data Protection (Processing of Sensitive Personal Data) (Elected Representatives) Order 2002 are fully applied by Inland Revenue offices in relation to communications to the Inland Revenue by hon. Members on behalf of their constituents.

Dawn Primarolo: Guidance is provided for staff of the Inland Revenue, now HM Revenue and Customs, in relation to hon. Members' communications with the department on behalf of their constituents. This guidance takes account both of the relevant data protection legislation, and the special legislation which governs information held by the department.

Sickness Absence

David Davies: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many days the Department has lost due to sickness in the past five years for which figures are available.

John Healey: The information on average working days sickness absence covering the years 1999 to 2003 for the Treasury and HM Revenue and Customs is available from the Analysis of Sickness Absence in the Civil Service" published by the Cabinet Office. Table A of the report gives details of both the average working days absence per staff year and the number of staff years on which that calculation is based on. Reports for 1999, 2000, 2001 and 2002 are also available in the Library and on the Cabinet Office website at:
	http://www.civilservice.gov.uk/management_information/conditions_of_service/caje/publications/index.asp#sickness

Sudden Adult Death Syndrome

Jennifer Willott: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will change the method by which deaths are recorded in order to identify deaths caused by sudden adult death syndrome; and if he will make a statement.

John Healey: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the national statistician who has been asked to reply.
	Letter from Colin Mowl to Jennifer Willott, dated 14 July 2005
	The National Statistician has been asked to reply to your recent question concerning the method by which deaths are recorded in order to identify deaths caused by sudden adult death syndrome. I am replying in his absence. (11561)
	In England and Wales, deaths that are sudden and of unknown cause must be referred to the coroner for investigation. If, after investigation, the coroner certifies the death as due to sudden adult death syndrome, or states that the death was sudden and no cause could be identified, it is coded to R96 in the tenth revision of the International Statistical Classification of Diseases. These deaths are counted as sudden adult deaths.
	If a more specific pathology or disease process is identified at autopsy, the coroner should write it on the death certificate. ONS will then use this information to code the cause of death. In these cases, the fact that the death was sudden is not systematically recorded at present. In preparing a first session draft bill to reform the death certification and coroner service, the Government will review what additional information should be recorded at death.

Tax Credits

Christopher Huhne: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many of his staff have been (a) dismissed and (b) moved to other jobs as a result of their responsibility for the problems surrounding the implementation of tax credits; and if he will make a statement.

Dawn Primarolo: None.

Tax Credits

George Osborne: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many tax credit awards were made to people with incomes in excess of (a) £50,000, (b) £52,500, (c) £55,000 and (d) £57,500 in (i) 2003–04 and (ii) 2004–05; and if he will make a statement.

Dawn Primarolo: Estimates of the average number of tax credit awards broken down by income for 2003–04 awards is available in the HMRC publication Child and Working Tax Credits Statistics. Finalised annual awards 2003–04." This publication can be found on the HMRC website at:
	http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/stats/personal-tax-credits/cwtc-quarterly-stats.htm.
	Table 2.9 of this publication shows the average number of in-work benefiting families in each band of income used to taper awards In 2003–04, after taking into account their final family circumstances and income. This shows that there was an estimated average of 112,000 families with such incomes over £50,000, after taking into account the disregard.
	A further breakdown of incomes over £50,000 show that for 72,000 of these families the income was over £52,500, for 36,000 it was over £55,000 and for 7,000 it was over £57,500. These figures exclude families whose tax credits awards were tapered to zero. The relevant incomes have been measured net of the disregard of the first £2,500 increase over 2001–02 incomes.
	Statistics on finalised 2004–05 awards cannot be compiled until all families report their 2004–05 incomes; they are due to be published in May 2006.

Tax Credits

George Osborne: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the largest overpayment in a single year to one recipient under the tax credit system was.

Dawn Primarolo: The information requested is not available except at disproportionate cost.

Tax Credits

David Laws: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many awards of (a) children's tax credit, (b) working families tax credit and (c) disabled person's tax credit were made in 2002–03; and what the cost per award of administration was in that year.

Dawn Primarolo: An estimated 3.9 million families benefited from children's tax credit in 2002–03. The cost per award of administration for children's tax credit is not available.
	Estimates of the number of recipient families for working families' and disabled person's tax credits for 2002–03 appear in the published Quarterly Enquiries. These publications can be found on the Inland Revenue website, at
	http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/stats/personal-tax-credits/menu.htm
	The costs of managing and paying working families' and disabled person's tax credits for 2002–03 are shown in the Inland Revenue Trust Accounts, Note 4, for the year ending 31 March 2003.

Travel Concessions

David Clelland: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer pursuant to the answer of 11 July 2005, Official Report, column 699W, on travel concessions, what discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Transport on the contribution to the relief of traffic congestion that might be made by abolishing the taxation applied to employer-provided travel concessions.

John Healey: There have been no specific discussions on the relationship between traffic congestion and tax relief for employer-provided travel concessions. However, the Treasury continues to discuss a range of transport issues with the DfT on an ongoing basis.

Water Rates

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what role the Valuation Office Agency plays in the assessment of rateable values for water rates.

Dawn Primarolo: The rateable values, used for water rates, were contained In the 1973 rating list. This rating list was effective from 1 April 1973 to 31 March 1990 and the Valuation Office Agency was, at this time, responsible for assessing the rateable values and maintaining this list. With the introduction of community charge, on 1 April 1990 (replaced by council tax on 1 April 1993), all rating assessments on domestic property ceased to exist, but water companies use these historic rateable values in levying charges for water and sewerage rates. There is now no mechanism for the Valuation Office Agency to amend rateable values shown in the 1973 rating list.

SOLICITOR-GENERAL

Corruption

Hugh Bayley: To ask the Solicitor-General If he will make a statement on his role in combating corruption.

Mike O'Brien: The Attorney General is responsible for superintending the work of the Director of Public Prosecutions as head of the CPS and the Director of the Serious Fraud Office. Both these departments have responsibility for prosecuting corruption cases. The Serious Fraud Office also has power to investigate allegations of corruption. By statute. Law Officer consent must be given before corruption offences can be prosecuted.

ASBOs

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Solicitor-General how many prosecutions there have been for breaches of antisocial behaviour orders since their introduction.

Mike O'Brien: Of the 1,892 ASBOs issued in England and Wales up to December 2003, 793 or 42 per cent. Were breached. 1 The CPS does not have discrete data for the number of prosecutions for breaches of antisocial behaviour orders since their introduction in 1999.
	1 Official Home Office statistics are based on data obtained from the courts proceedings database and compared to the database on number of ASBOs issued. Data is available up to December 2003. Breaches are counted on a person basis, i.e. multiple breaches (occurring at the same time), or where the order has been breached on more than one occasion, are all counted as one breach.

ASBOs

Ben Chapman: To ask the Solicitor-General how many prosecutions for breaches of antisocial behaviour orders the Crown Prosecution Service has brought in (a) Wirral South and (b) Merseyside.

Mike O'Brien: Of the 71 ASBOs issued in Merseyside up to December 2003, 22 or 31 per cent. were breached. Statistics for Wirral South are not available. 1 The CPS does not have discrete data for the number of prosecutions for breaches of antisocial behaviour orders.
	1 Official Home Office statistics are based on data obtained from the courts proceedings database and compared to the database on number of ASBOs issued. Breaches are counted on a person basis, i.e. multiple breaches (occurring at the same time), or where the order has been breached on more than one occasion, are all counted as one breach.

Alvis

Mike Hancock: To ask the Solicitor-General what the timetable is for the Serious Fraud Office completing its investigations into the allegations of corruption with respect to the sale of Alvis vehicles to Indonesia in the 1990s; and if he will make a statement.

Mike O'Brien: The SFO cannot confirm or deny whether a specific matter has been referred to it or is under investigation until such a time as is considered appropriate.
	The SFO has been designated the lead authority for vetting allegations of overseas corruption by UK companies or individuals. Currently the SFO is vetting thirteen cases where such corruption offences have been alleged.

Crown Prosecution Service

Sally Keeble: To ask the Solicitor-General what steps he is taking to expedite decision-making within the Crown Prosecution Service.

Mike O'Brien: Each case handled by the CPS is reviewed individually to make sure that both the evidence and the public interest support a prosecution, This process continues throughout the life of the case. Circumstances may change during the lifetime of a case, for example as new evidence emerges, and the prosecutor's decision must take account of these changing realities regardless of when they come to light.
	The introduction of statutory charging has helped to expedite CPS decision making. By involving prosecutors earlier in the process, they are able to ensure that key decisions are taken as early in the life of a case as possible and, in particular, that cases which are not viable are identified at the very outset of the prosecution process. The establishment of CPS Direct means that the CPS is able to give advice and make immediate charging decisions 24-hours a day, 365 days a year.

Crown Prosecution Service

Simon Hughes: To ask the Solicitor-General what percentage of cases referred to the Crown Prosecution Service were not proceeded with because of the unwillingness of witnesses to give evidence in each of the last five years.

Mike O'Brien: During the year ending March 2005, 1.7 per cent. of all CPS prosecutions resulted in an unsuccessful outcome through the unwillingness or non-attendance of witnesses. Comparable figures are not held for previous years.

Crown Prosecution Service

Vera Baird: To ask the Solicitor-General if he will take steps to ensure that letters from the Crown Prosecution Service explaining the discontinuance of a criminal prosecution are written in clear non-technical language.

Mike O'Brien: All crown prosecutors are required to attend a two day training course about writing letters to explain the reasons for their decisions. They are also provided with a comprehensive guidance manual which requires written communication to be clear, accurate, succinct, objective, human and to avoid jargon. Guidance also instructs crown prosecutors to use plain English.
	Chief crown prosecutors have responsibility for ensuring that letters issued meet the appropriate standards of quality and timeliness. Area performance, including the direct communication with victims initiative, is reviewed at regular intervals with the Director of Public Prosecutions.
	The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) Business Development Directorate is currently conducting a review of the direct communication with victims initiative, and will assess whether any further measures are required to ensure the quality and timeliness of written communications.

Iraq

Lynne Jones: To ask the Solicitor-General pursuant to the answer of 27 June, Official Report, column 1180W, on Iraq, whether the Government gave permission for the Butler Review to disclose that the Attorney General made an oral presentation to the Cabinet of his advice on the legality of the war in Iraq.

Mike O'Brien: The content of the report of the Butler Review of Intelligence of Weapons of Mass Destruction was the responsibility of the Butler Committee.

Recidivism

Paul Burstow: To ask the Solicitor-General pursuant to his Answer of 7 June 2005, Official Report, column 456W, on theft, how many young people subject to the diversion scheme did not re-offend in each of the last three years.

Fiona Mactaggart: I have been asked to reply.
	The information is not readily available in the form requested. Information on reconviction rates for juvenile offenders are published annually by both disposal and by offence, but not for combinations of these. The table shows the actual one year reconviction rates for those young offenders sentenced or released from custody in the first quarter of 2001, 2002, and 2003.
	Further data on reconviction rates for juvenile offenders are available in Home Office Online Report 08/05, published February 2005
	
		Percentage of juveniles who were not reconvicted within one year
		
			  Pre-court disposals Theft and handling offences 
		
		
			 2001 cohort 81.0 65.7 
			 2002 cohort 80.9 64.2 
			 2003 cohort 80.3 64.3

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

Biological and Toxin Weapons Convention

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what breaches of the Biological and Toxin Weapons Convention have occurred since 1980; and if he will make a statement.

Kim Howells: Article VI of the Biological and Toxin Weapons Convention (BTWC) permits any State Party to the convention to lodge a complaint with the Security Council of the United Nations if they find that any other State Party is in breach of obligations deriving from the provisions of the convention. To date no complaints of breaches of the obligations of the convention have been submitted to the United Nations. As one of the Depositary Governments of the BTWC, the UK views the issue of compliance with the convention as being of central importance and routinely monitors the compliance of all States Parties to the convention.

Central Africa

Mark Simmonds: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment the Government have made of Burundi's and Rwanda's violations of their obligations under international conventions on refugees; and if he will make a statement.

Ian Pearson: We have received several reports that the actions of the Rwandan and Burundian Governments in returning Rwandans from Burundi may have contravened international law. The facts remain unclear.
	We have been in touch with both countries' Governments and have reminded them of their international legal obligations under the 1951 refugee convention, to which both countries are signatories. We pressed them to consider fully individuals' right to asylum and to co-operate fully with staff of the UN High Commission for Refugees and other UN agencies.

Central Africa

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of reports that large-scale arms deliveries from Eastern Europe and the Balkans continue to be made to the Great Lakes Region despite the UN Security Council mandatory embargo.

Ian Pearson: Despite recent international efforts to strengthen and enforce the UN and EU arms embargoes, and the creation in 2004 of a UN group of experts to monitor implementation and examine reported breaches, there is some evidence that rebel groups in the Democratic Republic of Congo continue to receive supplies of arms and ammunition.
	The UK takes the enforcement of these embargoes very seriously and will examine carefully the latest reports of breaches of the arms embargo before assessing what further action might be appropriate. Any information we receive relating to the potential involvement of UK entities in alleged sanctions-breaches is reported promptly to the relevant UK authorities for their investigation.

Central Africa

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what action has been taken by his Department to stem the flow of arms to the Great Lakes Region.

Ian Pearson: We were instrumental in securing the adoption of Security Council resolution 1596 on 18 April 2005 which, among other measures, extended the UN embargo to cover the whole of the Democratic Republic of Congo's (DRC) territory and introduced a travel ban and assets freeze to be imposed on individuals violating the embargo.
	We have repeatedly raised our concerns with the Governments of the DRC and its neighbours about illicit flows of arms, urging them to prevent arms transiting their territory and to tighten border security. We have been in touch with the Rwandan and Ugandan Governments most recently, on 30 June and 1 July respectively.

Central Africa

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of reports that British-based firms have been involved in delivering arms to the Great Lakes Region.

Ian Pearson: We take seriously any allegations that UK entities may have been involved in the illicit supply of arms to embargoed destinations. Any evidence we receive is passed promptly to the relevant UK authorities for their investigation. Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs made inquiries into these allegations in 2003 but found no evidence of any offences.
	All export licence applications are rigorously assessed on a case by case basis against the Consolidated EU and National Arms Export Licensing Criteria. Export or trade licences issued recently for military-listed equipment going from the UK to the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) have been consistent with the exemptions to the UN and EU embargoes on the DRC, which allow the export of non-lethal equipment for humanitarian or protective use as well as equipment for the UN mission in the DRC and the integrated army and police of the DRC.

Central Africa

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of the operation of the arms embargo in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Ian Pearson: The UK continues to observe and support strongly the UN and EU arms embargoes on the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). Despite international efforts to enforce the embargoes, and the creation of a UN group of experts to monitor implementation and examine reported breaches, there is some evidence that rebel groups operating in eastern DRC continue to receive supplies of arms and ammunition.
	We continue to work to strengthen enforcement of the embargoes, and are working with Security Council partners to identify and impose assets freezes and travel bans on those who are found to have violated the UN embargo.

Correspondence

Alex Salmond: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he will reply to the letter dated 12 May from the hon. Member forBanff and Buchan regarding the subject of sex tourism.

Ian Pearson: holding answer 11 July 2005
	I replied to the hon. Member on 13 July. I apologise for the delay.

Corruption

Michael Penning: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment his Department has made of comparative levels of corruption within African Governments; whether a grading system exists for assessing such corruption; and if he will make a statement.

Ian Pearson: In the course of their normal reporting, our overseas posts comment on the impact and perceived extent of corruption in their host countries. However, there is no official grading system to compare levels of corruption. The only international ranking of which I am aware is Transparency International's annual Corruption Perceptions Index, last published in October 2004. The index is available on the Transparency International's website: http://www.transparency.org/

Ethiopia

Michael Penning: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on his policy towards the Ethiopian Government in the context of the latest elections.

Ian Pearson: Ethiopia's 15 May general elections were a step forward in the democratisation process. However, we were extremely concerned by the subsequent violence and detentions of large numbers of opposition supporters. We have made our concerns clear to the Government of Ethiopia and have urged all parties to respect the democratic process. The Ethiopian National Electoral Board is still investigating allegations of irregularities in a number of constituencies. We urge all parties to continue to participate in this process in a constructive manner. International observers, including the European Union Observer Mission, continue to monitor the election process closely.

Iran

Mark Simmonds: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions have taken place with his EU counterparts regarding the future of the EU3 negotiations with Iran on its nuclear programme following the recent Iranian election.

Kim Howells: Discussions continue between Iran and the UK, France and Germany (the 'E3'), supported by the EU high representative, under the framework agreed in Paris in November 2004. Iran's President-elect, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, has said that the process should go on, and the E3 remain fully committed to it.
	The E3 have agreed to present further ideas, including on long-term arrangements for Iran's nuclear programme. Officials are currently working on these. We will remain in close touch with our partners in the EU and elsewhere as our ideas develop. Long- term arrangements must provide objective guarantees that Iran's nuclear programme is exclusively for peaceful purposes.

Madagascar

Chris Mullin: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when and for what reason his Department last decided to close the embassy in Madagascar; and when and for what reason it was re-opened.

Ian Pearson: The British embassy in Madagascar was closed in February 1976 as part of a round of economies following a reduction in public expenditure announced in the 1975 Budget.
	The embassy was subsequently reopened in 1979. The reasons behind this decision included: Madagascar's then strategic position in the Indian ocean during the cold war; the fact that following UK entry into the EEC there were deemed to be commercial opportunities in Madagascar that British companies were missing and a high profile consular case that required work from UK-based staff.

Non-proliferation Treaty/Weapons Conventions

Mark Lazarowicz: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what measures the Government are taking to ensure the full implementation of the (a) Nuclear Non-proliferation Treaty and (b) Biological and Chemical Weapons Conventions.

Kim Howells: The Government continues to attach the utmost importance to the full implementation of all the Non-Proliferation Treaties. We continue to work with other countries and the International Atomic Energy Agency to strengthen the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty. The UK, as a Co Depository Government of the Biological and Toxin Weapons Convention (BTWC), actively supports all appropriate measures that would strengthen the Convention and the UK is chairing the 2005 intersessional meetings of the BTWC. As a State Party to the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC), the UK contributes actively to the work of Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW). The UK led negotiations on an OPCW Action Plan on the implementation of the CWC.

Sudan

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the decision of the EU to appoint a special representative to the Sudan.

Ian Pearson: The decision as to whether to appoint an EU special representative to Sudan (EUSR) is still awaiting final approval of the Council of Ministers. An EUSR will bolster the EU's efforts to support the peace process there, both by supporting the implementation of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement in Darfur and working, notably with the African Union (AU), to help resolve the crisis in Darfur. The UK is in favour of this proposal. The EU is already heavily engaged in Sudan. They are providing significant support to the AU mission in Darfur, including planning experts, technical, financial, material and logistic support to AU mission in Sudan and supporting the civilian policing aspects of the mission, and the European Commission has committed $765 million of development and humanitarian assistance. The deadline for applications closed on 7 July. The candidates will be interviewed, with the appointment taking effect in September.

Sudan

Michael Penning: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what estimate his Department has made of the weekly level of fatalities in southern Sudan; and if he will make a statement.

Ian Pearson: Signature of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) on 9 January 2005 brought to an end more than 20 years of civil war in the south, which claimed an estimated 2 million lives. Since signature of this Agreement, a permanent ceasefire has been in place, which will be monitored by a UN Peace Support Operation. Signature of the CPA also opened up access to urgently needed development assistance to southern Sudan, which will help improve the quality of life of the people there.
	But there is much to do. The health system is fragmented and there is no consolidated mortality/morbidity reporting. Estimates in the 2003 World Bank Status Report on South Sudan describe access to health care in the south as the worst in the world; and states that there are no infant or crude mortality rates given the deteriorated state of health care across the south. Pockets of civilian-directed violence also remain, particularly in areas of Equatoria occupied by the Lord's Resistance Army (LRA).
	The UK has allocated £112.5 million of assistance this year to the whole of Sudan, much of which will go to the south. We have funded vaccination campaigns to reduce the number of deaths due to disease. We are also pressing the new presidency of the Government of National Unity, inaugurated on 9 July, fully to implement the CPA, including its commitment to disarm, repatriate or expel foreign insurgency groups, including the LRA.

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

I-dialling

Helen Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what steps he is taking to increase consumer awareness of i-dialling scams.

Alun Michael: By i-dialling I take it that the hon. Member means rogue Premium Rate diallers on the internet running up large bills for consumers. The Independent Committee for the Supervision of Standards of Telephone Information Services (ICSTIS) regulates Premium Rate Services through its Code of Practice. Recommendation 10 of the Ofcom Review of Premium Rate Regulation encourages ICSTIS to develop its role in providing consumer information and to draw up a set of guidelines to govern its activities in this area. ICSTIS is currently finalising these guidelines following consultation and they are expected to be in place shortly. In addition the telecoms operators have been working hard to raise customer awareness of internet dialler scams and to ensure that customers are informed about how best to protect themselves. Advice is posted on BT's website at http://www.bt.com/premiumrates/ and on the websites of other companies.

Northamptonshire Footwear Industry

Philip Hollobone: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what his latest assessment is of (a) the economic strength of the Northamptonshire footwear manufacturing industry and (b) the competitive pressures it faces from China and elsewhere; and what steps his Department is taking to promote Northamptonshire's boot and shoe trade.

Alun Michael: The European Commission has opened two anti-dumping investigations into (a) footwear with a protective toecap from China and India; and (b) footwear with uppers of leather, originating in China and Vietnam. The purpose of the investigations will be to determine whether or not dumping has occurred. Dumping is considered unfair trade and the European Commission may impose anti-dumping duties to counteract it.
	UK Trade and Investment is the Government organisation that supports companies in the UK doing business internationally. UK Trade and Investment services are available to companies through locally-based teams, including the International Trade team based at Northamptonshire Chamber of Commerce and Business Link.
	No specific assessment has been made of the Northamptonshire footwear manufacturing industry or of the competitive pressures facing the industry from imports, but details of the Government's manufacturing strategy are available on the DTI website.

Royal Mail (Misdelivery)

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what steps he is taking to ensure that mail is delivered to the correct address by the Royal Mail; and if he will make a statement.

Barry Gardiner: Ensuring mail is delivered to the correct address is an operational matter for Royal Mail. I have received assurances from Allan Leighton and Adam Crozier that the Board will continue to give quality of service top priority.
	Royal Mail Board members are incentivised to improve the company's quality of service and meet its regulatory targets. Postcomm has powers to impose penalties on Royal Mail if it fails to meet these targets.

Telephone Boxes

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many telephone boxes he expects to be available in each of the next five years.

Alun Michael: Approximately 68,000 BT public call boxes exist at present. However, it is impossible to predict how many public call boxes will be available in each of the next five years. Under an Office of Communications (Ofcom) Direction implementing the Universal Service Obligation, local authorities can veto the removal of the last callbox on a site, which comprises any area within a walking distance of 100 metres from the call box..

ELECTORAL COMMISSION COMMITTEE

Election Expenditure

Mark Prisk: To ask the hon. Member for Gosport, representing the Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission what the total amount spent by the Electoral Commission (a) prior to the 2005 Election and (b) during the 2005 election was on (i) television advertising, (ii) telephone hotlines, (iii) websites, (iv) screen adverts at train stations, (v) posters, (vi) postcards, (vii) postage, (viii) advertisements on buses and bus stops and (ix) radio advertising as part of the About my Vote and Don't Do Politics campaign.

Peter Viggers: The Electoral Commission informs me that expenditure in the specified categories as part of the About my Vote and Don't Do Politics campaign is as set out in the following table:
	
		
			  (a) Pre-election campaign 
			  2003–041 2004–052 (b) Election campaign3 
		
		
			 (i) Television advertising 1,391,127 3,349,279 1,916,051 
			 (ii) Telephone hotlines 38,360 125,970 86,045 
			 (iii) Websites (www.aboutmyvote.co.uk) 54,571 19,905 2,033 
			 (iv) Screen adverts at train stations 0 0 23,969 
			 (v) Posters 0 0 4,953 
			 (vi) Postcards 0 0 88 
			 (vii) Postage 0 0 0 
			 (viii) Adverts on buses and at bus stops 0 0 9,466 
			 (ix) Radio advertising 0 0 749,860 
		
	
	(3) 2003–04 (a) costs include initial campaign production and spring 2004 registration campaign.
	(4) 2004–05 (a) costs include 20 June 2004 election campaign and spring 2005 registration campaign.
	(5) Election campaign costs (b) include general election campaign costs incurred from 1 April 2005.

HEALTH

Ambulance Services

Sandra Gidley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will amend the targets for ambulance trusts to reflect clinical outcomes rather than vehicle response times.

Liam Byrne: The recently published review of ambulance services, Taking Healthcare to the Patient: Transforming NHS Ambulance Services", recommends that while national performance requirements should continue to focus on speed of response for those patients with immediately life-threatening conditions, category A, national performance requirements for category B response times should over time be replaced by clinical and outcome indicators. This change should happen once the evidence base, technology and professional consensus are sufficiently developed to make this possible. Ministers have accepted these recommendations.
	"Taking Healthcare to the Patient: Transforming NHS Ambulance Services" is available in the Library.

Asthma (Bedfordshire)

Nadine Dorries: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many (a) adults and (b) children in Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire NHS primary care trust have been recorded as suffering from asthma in each year since 1997.

Rosie Winterton: The Department publishes information about the number of admitted care episodes in national health service hospitals where asthma was the primary diagnosis. The table shows the finished admission episodes for asthma for under 18 and over 18 age groups for residents in Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire strategic health authority (SHA) in each year between 1997–98 to 2003–04.
	Information about the incidence of asthma is not currently available. However, the Health and Social Care Information Centre is due to publish data shortly about the numbers of people in each primary care trust (PCT) area recorded with asthma in 2004–05, which will be available on its website shortly.
	
		Primary diagnosis: asthma (ICD-10 codes J45-J46), finished admission episodes, Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire SHA of residence, national health service hospitals, England 1997–98 to 2003–04
		
			  Adults (aged over 18) Children  (aged 0–17) Age not known Total 
		
		
			 1997–98 988 1,229 1 2,218 
			 1998–99 1,014 1,169 — 2,183 
			 1999–2000 943 1,025 1 1,969 
			 2000–01 716 821 — 1,537 
			 2001–02 811 1,007 — 1,818 
			 2002–03 919 884 — 1,803 
			 2003–04 898 735 — 1,633 
		
	
	Notes:
	1. A finished admission episode is the first period of in-patient care under one consultant within one healthcare provider. Please note that admissions do not represent the number of in-patients, as a person may have more than one admission within the year.
	2. The primary diagnosis is the first of up to 14—seven prior to 2002–03—diagnosis fields in the hospital episode statistics (HES) data set and provides the main reason why the patient was in hospital.
	3. Figures have not been adjusted for shortfalls in data—i.e. the data is un-grossed.
	Source:
	HES, Health and Social Care Information Centre.

Bedford Hospital NHS Trust

Nadine Dorries: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what discussions she has had regarding the anticipated overspend of Bedford Hospital NHS Trust; and if she will make a statement.

Rosie Winterton: It is the responsibility of strategic health authorities to deliver both overall financial balance for their local health communities and to ensure each and every body achieves financial balance.
	Officials have been in discussion with Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire SHA to ensure it is taking appropriate action in relation to the anticipated deficit position of Bedford Hospital National Health Service Trust.

Bedford Hospital NHS Trust

Nadine Dorries: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many incidents of violence were recorded against NHS staff in Bedford Hospital NHS Trust in each year since 1997; and how many people were prosecuted in each year as a result.

Rosie Winterton: The table shows the number of reported violent incidents against national health service staff in the Bedford Hospital NHS Trust for the years 2000–01, 2001–02 and 2002–03. Information is not available prior to 2000. The information is from the violence, accidents and harassments in the NHS survey. As the survey has been discontinued, figures for 2004 are not available. The Department does not collect information about the number of prosecutions resulting from violent assaults.
	
		NHS hospital and community health services: recorded incidents, on staff, of violent attacks and assaults in the Bedford Hospitals NHS Trust in each specified period
		
			 RC1 Bedford Hospitals NHS Trust Number of reported violent incidents 
		
		
			 2000–01 33 
			 2001–02 126 
			 2002–03 86 
		
	
	Notes:
	1. Covers 1 April to 31 March for the specific years.
	2. This data collection was discontinued in 2003.
	Source:
	Survey of violence, accidents and harassments in the NHS.

Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire SHA

Nadine Dorries: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people are employed by the Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire strategic health authority; and in what roles.

Rosie Winterton: The number of people employed by the Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire strategic health authority (SHA) and their roles is shown in the table.
	
		National health service hospital and community health services: Non-medical staff directly employed by the Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire SHA as at 30 September 2004
		
			  Headcount 
		
		
			 Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire SHA (Q02) 84 
			 Support to clinical staff 2 
			 Support to doctors and nurses 2 
			 NHS infrastructure support 82 
			 Central functions 28 
			 Managers and senior managers 54 
		
	
	Source:
	Health and Social Care Information Centre non-medical workforce census 2004.

Birth Centres

Sandra Gidley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  whether she has developed booking criteria for admission to birth centres;
	(2)  if she will commission research into the effectiveness of birth centres.

Liam Byrne: The Department has not developed any booking criteria for admission to birth centres.
	The Department generally funds research to support policy and to provide the evidence needed to underpin quality improvement and service development in the national health service. Through its service delivery and organisation research and development programme, the Department is in the process of commissioning a three-year study about the effectiveness, acceptability and efficiency of birth centres. It is anticipated that the tender for this research will be advertised in September 2005.

Care Homes

Sarah Teather: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many inspections of care homes have been carried out in London in each year since 1997; how many were announced; how many were unannounced; and how many led to the deregistration of care homes.

Liam Byrne: The Commission for Social Care Inspection (CSCI) is responsible for inspecting all care homes in England in accordance with statutory regulations and national minimum standards.
	I understand from the Chair of CSCI that in 2003–04, there were 5,083 inspections completed in London. 2,559 (50.3 per cent.) were announced, 2,524 (49.7 per cent.) were un-announced.
	In 2004–05, there were 5,173 inspections completed in London 2,815 (54.4 per cent.) were announced, 2,378 (45.6 per cent.) were un-announced.
	Information prior to 2003–04 is not available because different regulatory arrangements applied.

Dentistry

Nadine Dorries: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  how many registered dentists were practising in the (a) County of Bedfordshire and (b) constituency of Mid-Bedfordshire in each year since 1997;
	(2)  how many full-time dentists there have been in the (a) county of Bedfordshire and (b) constituency of Mid-Bedfordshire in each year since 1997.

Rosie Winterton: Information relating to numbers of full-time dentists is not held centrally, as dentists can vary the amount of hours they work as well as their national health service commitment. The numbers of dentists in the county of Bedfordshire and the constituency of Mid-Bedfordshire, as at 31 March each year since 1997, are shown in the table.
	
		General dental service (GDS) and personal dental service (PDS) number of dentists in the specified areas as at 31 March each year
		
			  Parliamentary constituency: Mid-Bedfordshire  County: Bedfordshire 
		
		
			 1997 16 119 
			 1998 17 120 
			 1999 19 132 
			 2000 23 146 
			 2001 20 151 
			 2002 25 166 
			 2003 22 154 
			 2004 23 160 
			 2005 23 169 
		
	
	Notes:
	1. The figures are based on the numbers of dentists with open GDS or PDS contracts.
	2. The dentists include principals, assistants and trainees.
	3. Prison contracts have been excluded.
	4. The areas have been defined using practice postcodes within the specified area.
	5. The figures provide a snapshot of the number of individual dentists with an open contract at 31 March.
	6. A dentist with a GDS or PDS contract may provide as little or as much NHS treatment as he or she chooses or has agreed with the primary care trust (PCT). The Dental Practice Board has no information concerning the amount of time dedicated to NHS work by individual dentists.
	7. The Dental Practice Board has no information concerning the amount of time dedicated to NHS work by individual dentists.
	8. The figures take into account any notifications received up to 5 July 2005.
	9. Areas have been defined using the Office of National Statistics All Fields Postcode Directory—November 2004"
	10. Figures have been provided by the NHS Health and Social Care Information Centre. The data source is the Dental Practice Board and the figures are based on the numbers of individual dentists with open GDS or PDS contracts as at 31 March 2005.
	11. The postcode of the dental practice was used to allocate dentists to specific geographic areas. Specific geographic areas have been defined using the Office of National Statistics All Fields Postcode Directory—November 2004".
	Source:
	Dental Practice Board

Dentistry

Tobias Ellwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will make a statement on the adequacy of provision of NHS dentists in Bournemouth East.

Rosie Winterton: Over the years, 2003–04 and 2004–05, the Department allocated £1.6 million to the Dorset and Somerset strategic health authority (SHA) to improve access, choice and quality in national health service dentistry. In 2004–05, Bournemouth primary care trust (PCT), which serves the Bournemouth East area, received from this sum £108,000 for capital grants and £46,000 revenue for access.
	The SHA advises that this money has been used to improve access and increase capacity, including the recruitment of additional 1.5 NHS dentists. This secured 3,000 additional NHS patient registrations between 1 April 2004 and 31 March 2005.
	Two new dentists have also been secured through international recruitment, and a new practice with four dentists will start to treat patients from September 2005.
	The PCT has plans to improve access further. Two Polish dentists recently started work at a Bournemouth dental practice in Southbourne. Both dentists were recruited through the Department's overseas recruitment programme and were placed with an existing local dental practice that was able to develop additional dental surgeries with partial grant aid from the FCT. These dentists are registering new patients now and will each accept 2,000 new NHS patients under the personal dental service (PDS) contract agreed with the owner of the dental practice.
	The PCT has also been working to establish a new four surgery dental practice in Tuckton. Planning permission has been obtained and building work at the practice is at an advanced stage. The practice will treat patients from early September 2005 but will be able to book advanced appointments from early August 2005. The PDS contract agreed with the practice and approved by the Department will provide for 8,000 patients to register with an NHS dentist.
	The PCT has a further plan, at advanced stage of development, to establish a new four chair dental practice in Boscombe. This should enable a further 8,000 patients to register with an NHS dentist.

Dentistry

Stewart Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what measures are being put in place to increase the provision of NHS dentistry in Peterborough constituency.

Rosie Winterton: The Peterborough constituency has been provided with £209,000 in access money. This will deliver an increase of 17,500 patient registrations. In addition, eight out of 26 dental practices have converted to the personal dental service.
	There is a dental access centre based at 5 Midgate, Peterborough. Both the North Peterborough and Peterborough South primary care trusts are participating in the Department's international recruitment campaign. This has resulted in the recruitment of four Polish dentists, who are already working in the Peterborough constituency, with a further three Polish recruits due to start later this year.

Drug Rehabilitation (Bedfordshire)

Nadine Dorries: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many drug rehabilitation places are available for residents within the county of Bedfordshire.

Rosie Winterton: The number of drug rehabilitation places for residents in the county of Bedfordshire is not held centrally. However, the number of people in contact with structured drug treatment services in Bedfordshire for the year 2003–04 is 903.

End of Life Decision Making

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  how many times the Government have consulted on end of life decision-making since 1997;
	(2)  how many times her Department has consulted (a) formally and (b) informally on end of life decision making since 1997.

Rosie Winterton: The Government had extensive dialogue with a range of groups in respect to the passage of the Mental Capacity Act, which deals with, among other things, end of life decisions for those who lack capacity. As part of this work, the Department for Constitutional Affairs issued two formal consultation documents Who Decides?—making decisions on behalf of mentally incapacitated adults" (1997) and Making Decisions: Helping people who have difficulty for themselves" (2002). The consultations covered a range of issues and diverse comments were received in response to these.
	During the passage of the Mental Capacity Act and as part of regular policy dialogue, the Government receive a wide range of representations from a variety of stakeholders on end of life issues.

General Anaesthetics (Consent)

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will seek to introduce legislation requiring a parent or guardian to sign the consent form for general anaesthetic for a minor.

Rosie Winterton: Young people under 16 can give consent to medical treatment if they are able to understand fully what is involved in the proposed procedure. Departmental guidance encourages young people to include their parents in their decisions in such situations.

Hampshire and Isle of Wight Strategic Health Authority

Sandra Gidley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health for what reasons the recent vacancy for the post of chief executive at the Hampshire and Isle of Wight strategic health authority was not publicly advertised.

Caroline Flint: Strategic health authorities (SHAs) are statutory bodies. Appointments of chief executives are made by the relevant SHA chair and board and, as such, are a matter for local determination.
	SHAs are obliged to advertise publicly a chief executive vacancy when they are appointing to the position on a substantive basis. The chief executive position at Hampshire and the Isle of Wight has been taken up on an interim basis only.

Health Trusts

Harry Cohen: To ask the Secretary of State for Health to which health trusts she has recently written in relation to (a) performance and (b) financial position; and if she will make a statement.

Liam Byrne: I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave the hon. member for North West Hampshire (Sir George Young) today.

Hepatitis B

Ian Gibson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation sub-group on hepatitis B has made recommendations on universal vaccination for hepatitis B.

Caroline Flint: The Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) was updated recently on progress made by its working group on hepatitis B immunisation. JCVI felt that further work was required before any recommendations on future policy could be made.

Hospital Building

Steve Webb: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many hospital building schemes are planned to start construction in (a) 2005, (b) 2006, (c) 2007 and (d) 2008.

Liam Byrne: The start of schemes is subject to successful approval of the full business case. Detailed information on schemes with a capital value below £25 million is not held centrally. In 2005, one scheme has started and another seven are due to start. It is anticipated that nine will start in 2006 and eight in 2007. Timetables for later schemes are not yet finalised.

Hospital-acquired Infections

Anne Main: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment she has made of the implications of initiatives to achieve greater throughput of patients on wards and in units for the spread of MRSA and other hospital-acquired infections.

Jane Kennedy: Controlling healthcare associated infections is complex and, as the national health service is treating more patients, this increased activity means that we need to work even harder to reduce the risk of infection.
	Implementing Winning Ways: Working together to reduce Healthcare Associated Infection in England" (December 2003) and Towards cleaner hospitals and lower rates of infection" (July 2004) will address these concerns. For instance on bed occupancy, chief executives are required to ensure that infection control teams work with bed managers to optimise bed use, assess the infection impact of bed management policies and implement changes to local policy to minimise the risk of infection.

Hospitals (Hendon)

Andrew Dismore: To ask the Secretary of State for Health which hospitals will be available to patients in Hendon to choose from when patient choice becomes operational; for which forms of treatment; and if she will make a statement.

Liam Byrne: Primary care trusts are responsible for commissioning the lists of four or more providers from which patients needing planned hospital care will be able to choose from the end of this year when they are referred by their general practitioner. Barnet primary care trust is responsible for commissioning the choice options for patients in Hendon.

Identity Checks

Lynne Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment she has made of (a) the cost and (b) merits of checking the biometric identities of individuals accessing health services; and what her preferred method is.

Jane Kennedy: We have been working with the Home Office to identify areas where the identity cards scheme could provide business benefits. On 28 June 2005, my right, hon. Friend the Home Secretary (Mr. Clarke) placed in the Library a paper containing the latest estimates of benefits of the identity cards scheme which shows that the benefits outweigh the costs once the scheme is fully operational. The cost of equipping premises will depend on the nature of the use of the identity cards scheme and the type of identity checks necessary to deliver the business benefits. In some cases, benefits could be realised without the use of card readers and the cost of installing any readers needs to be considered alongside future plans to refresh or upgrade information technology systems. As the design of the scheme matures, during and after the procurement exercise, so will our understanding of where the scheme will be of most benefit which will allow us to further refine our estimates of costs and benefits.

Infection Control Teams

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many infection control teams have dedicated budgets.

Jane Kennedy: The information requested is not collected centrally.

Infection Surveillance Data

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the answer of 13 June 2005, Official Report, column 104W, on Infection Surveillance Data, if she will order an independent inquiry into the infection control procedures of all hospitals revealed to have a higher rate of clostridium difficile infection than Stoke Mandeville hospital when these data are published.

Jane Kennedy: The inquiry into the Clostridium difficile outbreak at Stoke Mandeville hospital will help to refine policy and develop tools for better control of Clostridium difficile throughout the health service. The priority will be implementing these recommendations rather than further inquiries.

IVF Treatment

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what estimate she has made of the number of women who have suffered a stroke following IVF treatment; and if she will make a statement;
	(2)  if she will introduce legislation to require that women contemplating IVF treatment be warned about the possible adverse consequences, including the risk of a stroke; and if she will make a statement;
	(3)  how many women aged (a) 16 to 24, (b) 25 to 30, (c) 30 to 35, (d) 36 to 40 and (e) over 40 years suffered adverse consequences following IVF treatment in each of the last three years for which figures are available;
	(4)  if she will list the possible adverse consequences of IVF treatment; and if she will make a statement.

Caroline Flint: Information on side effects following in vitro fertilisation (IVF) treatment, including the incidence of strokes, is not collected centrally. However, the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA), which has monitored incidents involving IVF treatment since 2002, has advised me that it has not recorded an incidence of stoke following IVF since monitoring began.
	As with any medical treatment, there are potential side effects of IVF. These include ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome, emotional stress, depression, mood swings, bleeding and infection after surgical egg collection and the medical and social implication of a multiple pregnancy and birth. Serious side effects are rare.
	It is vital that patients contemplating IVF treatment are given all relevant information about their treatment, including any side effects associated with it. The provision of information and the opportunity of receiving counselling are already required by section 13 of the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Act 1990, which sets out the conditions on which a treatment licence is granted. This is reinforced by the HFEA's code of practice, which requires clinics to provide information on possible side effects and the risks posed to the patient and any resulting child.

Locum Doctors

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will make a statement on the procedures for locum doctor registration.

Liam Byrne: A doctor performing locum work is required to register with the General Medical Council in the same way as any other doctor.

Malnourishment

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate she has made of the (a) number and (b) percentage of people (i) admitted to and (ii) discharged from hospital who were malnourished ineach of the last five years for which figures are available, broken down by age; and if she will make a statement.

Caroline Flint: Information on numbers admitted is shown in tables 1 to 3.
	
		1: Finished in-year admission episodes to national health service hospitals in England where the patient' s main diagnosis was malnutrition, 1999–2000 to 2003–04
		
			 Age 1999–2000 2000–01 2001–02 2002–03 2003–04 
		
		
			 0–4 10 18 9 16 13 
			 5–14 6 5 3 4 3 
			 15–44 55 35 47 46 58 
			 45–64 65 50 50 69 61 
			 65–74 30 37 40 36 33 
			 75–84 42 36 46 44 48 
			 85 and over 25 28 38 26 32 
			 Not known — — 4 1 — 
			 Total 233 209 237 242 248 
		
	
	
		2: Total finished in-year admission episodes to NHS hospitals in England, 1999–2000 to 2003–04
		
			 Age 1999–2000 2000–01 2001–02 2002–03 2003–04 
		
		
			 0–4 1,139,850 1,112,999 1,110,269 1,086,383 1,122,920 
			 5–14 505,771 501,346 503,144 502,133 497,229 
			 15–44 3,654,812 3,651,228 3,546,442 3,593,471 3,730,027 
			 45–64 2,406,369 2,446,966 2,402,645 2,480,240 2,573,578 
			 65–74 1,503,423 1,522,896 1,498,519 1,543,585 1,616,827 
			 75–84 1,321,341 1,348,834 1,355,858 1,432,390 1,529,096 
			 85 and over 548,747 563,670 570,183 595,137 616,383 
			 Not known 35,837 58,587 53,731 34,377 29,744 
			 Total 11,116,150 11,206,526 11,040,791 11,267,716 11,715,804 
		
	
	
		3: Malnutrition cases per 100,000 finished in-year admission episodes, NHS hospitals in England, 1999–2000 to 2003–04
		
			 Age 1999–2000 2000–01 2001–02 2002–03 2003–04 
		
		
			 0–4 0.9 1.6 0.8 1.5 1.2 
			 5–14 1.2 1.0 0.6 0.8 0.6 
			 15–44 1.5 1.0 1.3 1.3 1.6 
			 45–64 2.7 2.0 2.1 2.8 2.4 
			 65–74 2.0 2.4 2.7 2.3 2.0 
			 75–84 3.2 2.7 3.4 3.1 3.1 
			 85 and over 4.6 5.0 6.7 4.4 5.2 
			 Not known — — 7.4 2.9 — 
			 Total 2.1 1.9 2.1 2.1 2.1 
		
	
	Information on numbers discharged is shown in tables 4 to 6.
	
		4: In-year discharge episodes from NHS hospitals in England where the patient's main diagnosis was malnutrition, 1999–2000 to 2003–04
		
			 Age 1999–2000 2000–01 2001–02 2002–03 2003–04 
		
		
			 0–4 11 18 9 16 13 
			 5–14 6 5 3 5 3 
			 15–44 55 37 49 46 58 
			 45–64 70 55 50 73 60 
			 65–74 32 43 44 42 34 
			 75–84 46 46 54 51 46 
			 85 and over 28 38 44 28 34 
			 Not known — — 4 2 — 
			 Total 248 242 257 263 248 
		
	
	
		5: Total in-year discharge episodes from NHS hospitals in England, 1999–2000 to 2003–04
		
			 Age 1999–2000 2000–01 2001–02 2002–03 2003–04 
		
		
			 0–4 1,148,890 1,118,540 1,118,885 1,093,996 1,130,883 
			 5–14 510,745 505,787 507,561 504,697 499,947 
			 15–44 3,696,750 3,698,665 3,591,473 3,633,192 3,771,729 
			 45–64 2,441,235 2,484,610 2,439,402 2,513,429 2,609,408 
			 65–74 1,532,063 1,554,291 1,528,904 1,570,343 1,645,021 
			 75–84 1,358,048 1,388,971 1,396,899 1,468,666 1,566,713 
			 85 and over 570,416 588,409 595,936 617,733 638,690 
			 Not known 31,982 59,116 54,595 34,953 29,922 
			 Total 11,290,129 11,398,389 11,233,655 11,437,009 11,892,313 
		
	
	
		6: Malnutrition cases per 100,000 in-year discharge episodes, NHS hospitals in England, 1999–2000 to 2003–04
		
			 Age 1999–2000 2000–01 2001–02 2002–03 2003–04 
		
		
			 0–4 1.0 1.6 0.8 1.5 1.1 
			 5–14 1.2 1.0 0.6 1.0 0.6 
			 15–44 1.5 1.0 1.4 1.3 1.5 
			 45–64 2.9 2.2 2.0 2.9 2.3 
			 65–74 2.1 2.8 2.9 2.7 2.1 
			 75–84 3.4 3.3 3.9 3.5 2.9 
			 85 and over 4.9 6.5 7.4 4.5 5.3 
			 Not known — — 7.3 5.7 — 
			 Total 2.2 2.1 2.3 2.3 2.1 
		
	
	Source:
	Hospital episode statistics, health and social care information centre.

Mental Health Services (Teenagers)

Robert Wilson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will make a statement on mental health services for teenagers.

Liam Byrne: The Department is currently investing about £300 million to improve and expand child and adolescent mental health services (CAMHS). In September 2004, the Department, in conjunction with the Department for Education and Skills, sets out its vision for improving CAMHS in the children's national service framework (NSF). Although the NSF covers the whole range of CAMHS patients from young children to, typically, 17-year-olds, there are some recommendations which are particularly relevant to teenage users of mental health services. These include: consultation with young people about the design of patient-centred services, providing a choice of appropriate locations for young people to visit for their treatment, and ensuring a smooth and flexible transition from CAMHS to adult mental health services, taking into account the wishes of the patient.
	In line with the commitments set out in the NHS plan (2000), early intervention in psychosis services have now been created across England to provide assessment and care for young individuals experiencing a first onset of psychosis. The development of early intervention services is being supported by a major programme of research to evaluate their implementation and benefits for service users.

MRSA

Simon Burns: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many cases of MRSA there were in the Mid Essex Hospital Trust area in each of the last five years for which statistics are available.

Jane Kennedy: holding answer 12 July 2005
	The Department introduced mandatory reporting of methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) bacteraemias (blood stream infections) for national health service acute trusts from 1 April 2001. The number of MRSA reports for the three years which figures are available is shown in the table.
	
		
			  Number of reports 
		
		
			 April 2001 to March 2002 44 
			 April 2002 to March 2003 33 
			 April 2003 to March 2004 43 
			 April 2004 to March 2005 41

NHS Financial Performance

Tim Yeo: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when the (a) Norfolk, Suffolk and Cambridge Strategic Health Authority, (b) Suffolk West Primary Care Trustand (c) West Suffolk Hospitals Trust first reported financial problems in West Suffolk to her Department.

Rosie Winterton: The Norfolk, Suffolk and Cambridgeshire Strategic Health Authority and the West Suffolk Hospitals National Health Service Trust have recently reported a financial deficit in 2003–04. The Suffolk West Primary Care Trust reported a financial deficit in 2002–03.

NHS Financial Performance

George Young: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will list the (a) NHS trusts and (b) primary care trusts to whom she has recently written about their financial performance.

Liam Byrne: holding answer 5 July 2005
	The following list shows all the national health service organisations that have recently received a letter regarding financial management from me or the NHS chief executive.
	Organisation
	Airedale NHS Trust
	Bedford Hospitals NHS Trust
	Bedfordshire Heartlands PCT
	Bexley Care Trust
	Birmingham Women's Health Care NHS Trust
	Blackwater Valley and Hart PCT
	Bolton Hospitals NHS Trust
	Brighton and Sussex University Hospitals NHS Trust
	Broadland PCT
	Buckinghamshire Mental Health NHS Trust
	Burntwood, Lichfield and Tamworth PCT
	Burton Hospitals NHS Trust
	Cambridge City PCT
	Cannock Chase PCT
	Canterbury and Coastal PCT
	Cent Manchester/Manchester Child NHS Trust
	Central Cornwall PCT
	Central Suffolk PCT
	Chelmsford PCT
	Cherwell Vale PCT
	Cotswold and Vale PCT
	Dacorum PCT
	Dartford and Gravesham NHS Trust
	East and North Hertfordshire NHS Trust
	East Elmbridge and Mid Surrey PCT
	East Hampshire PCT
	East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust
	East Lincolnshire PCT
	East Sussex Hospitals NHS Trust
	Eastbourne Downs PCT
	Eastleigh and Test Valley South PCT
	Fareham and Gosport PCT
	George Eliot Hospital NHS Trust
	Good Hope Hospital NHS Trust
	Guildford and Waverley PCT
	Hammersmith Hospitals NHS Trust
	Hampshire Ambulance Service NHS Trust
	Havering PCT
	Heatherwood and Wexham Park Hospitals NHS Trust
	Hertsmere PCT
	Hillingdon PCT
	Hounslow PCT
	Hull and East Yorkshire Hospitals NHS Trust
	Ipswich Hospital NHS Trust
	Ipswich PCT
	Isle of Wight PCT
	Kennet and North Wiltshire PCT
	Kensington and Chelsea PCT
	Kettering General Hospital NHS Trust
	King's College Hospital NHS Trust
	Kings Lynn and Wisbech Hospitals NHS Trust
	Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust
	Luton PCT
	Maidstone Weald PCT
	Maldon and South Chelmsford PCT
	Mid Essex Hospital Services NHS Trust
	Mid Staffordshire General Hospitals NHS Trust
	Mid Yorkshire Hospitals NHS Trust
	Mid-Hampshire PCT
	Milton Keynes PCT
	Morecambe Bay Hospitals NHS Trust
	New Forest PCT
	Newbury and Community PCT
	Newcastle-Under-Lyme PCT
	North and East Cornwall PCT
	North Birmingham PCT
	North Devon PCT
	North East Oxfordshire PCT
	North Hampshire PCT
	North Hertfordshire and Stevenage PCT
	North Middlesex University Hospital NHS Trust
	North Norfolk PCT
	North Somerset PCT
	North Stoke PCT
	North West London Hospitals NHS Trust
	Plymouth Hospitals NHS Trust
	Queen Elizabeth Hospital NHS Trust
	Queen Mary's Sidcup NHS Trust
	Royal Bournemouth and Christchurch NHS Trust
	Royal Cornwall Hospitals NHS Trust
	Royal Free Hampstead NHS Trust
	Royal United Hospital Bath NHS Trust
	Royal Wolverhampton Hospital NHS Trust
	Sandwell and West Birmingham Hospitals NHS Trust
	Selby and York PCT
	Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital NHS Trust
	South and East Dorset PCT
	South Cambridgeshire PCT
	South Stoke PCT
	South Tees Hospitals NHS Trust
	South Warwickshire Gen Hospitals NHS Trust
	South West Oxfordshire PCT
	South Western Staffordshire PCT
	South Wiltshire PCT
	Southampton University Hospitals NHS Trust
	Southern Norfolk PCT
	Southport and Ormskirk Hospital NHS Trust
	St. George's Healthcare NHS Trust
	St. Albans and Harpenden PCT
	Staffordshire Moorlands PCT
	Suffolk Coastal PCT
	Suffolk West PCT
	Surrey and Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust
	Sussex Downs and Weald PCT
	Swale PCT
	The Lewisham Hospital NHS Trust
	The Royal Nat Orthopaedic Hospital NHS Trust
	The Royal West Sussex NHS Trust
	Trafford Healthcare NHS Trust
	United Lincolnshire Hospitals NHS Trust
	Vale of Aylesbury PCT
	Walsall Hospitals NHS Trust
	Waltham Forest PCT
	Wandsworth PCT
	Watford and Three Rivers PCT
	West Dorset General Hospitals NHS Trust
	West Gloucestershire PCT
	West Hertfordshire Hospitals NHS Trust
	West Middlesex University NHS Trust
	West Midlands Ambulance NHS Trust
	West Norfolk PCT
	West of Cornwall PCT
	West Suffolk Hospitals NHS Trust
	West Wiltshire PCT
	Weston Area Health NHS Trust
	Witham, Braintree and Halstead Care Trust
	Wrightington, Wigan and Leigh NHS Trust
	Wycombe PCT
	Wyre Forest PCT
	Yorkshire Wolds and Coast PCT

Nursing Homes (Southend)

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much money has been allocated for the improvement and renovation of nursing homes in the Southend West constituency in 2005–06.

Rosie Winterton: This information is not collected. Care homes are private businesses making commercial/decisions on when and how much to spend on improvements and renovations. However, over the last three years the Government have provided for an average of 3 per cent., per annum growth in real terms in spending on social services. Local councils have the freedom to use these resources to provide services for older people in care homes, taking account of local circumstances and priorities.

Older People (Medication Review)

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when she will publish part two of the Taskforce on Medicine Partnership's evaluation of Room for Review.

Jane Kennedy: Part one of the evaluation of Room for Review was published on 21 March 2005. A copy is available through the Medicines Partnership's website at: www.medicines-partnership.org/medication-review/room-for-review/impact-evaluation. Part two of the evaluation will be published in summer 2005.

Physiotherapist Vacancies

Mark Lancaster: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many vacancies there were for physiotherapists in England and Wales in 2004.

Liam Byrne: The national health survey collects information on the number of vacancies lasting three months or more for physiotherapists in England. As at March 2004, there were 626 three-month vacancies for physiotherapists which represents a rate of 4.1 per cent., a fall from 4.7 per cent. the previous year.
	Information for Wales is a matter for the devolved Administration.

Pregnancy-related Deaths

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many women aged (a) 14 to 16 years, (b) 17 to 21 years, (c) 22 to 24 years, (d) 25 to 30 years, (e) 31 to 35 years and (f) 36 to 40 years have died from pregnancy-related diseases in each year since 1976.

Liam Byrne: The confidential enquiry into maternal deaths (CEMD) collects information relating to women dying from pregnancy-related conditions. Data is collected over three-year periods and is shown in the tables. From 1976 to 1987, this covered England and Wales only and also included only deaths directly related to obstetric complications. From 1988, however, data became available for the whole of the United Kingdom, which comprises both deaths directly and indirectly related to obstetric complications.
	
		CEMD data—England and Wales only. Deaths directly due to obstetric complications
		
			  Year 
			 Age 1976–78 1978–81 1982–84 1986–87 
		
		
			 Under 20 18 16 9 12 
			 20–24 38 34 27 24 
			 25–29 83 49 39 34 
			 30–34 44 40 28 36 
			 35–39 22 26 27 28 
			 Over 40 22 11 8 5 
			 Total 227 176 138 139 
		
	
	
		CEMD data—UK. Deaths directly and indirectly due to obstetric complications
		
			  Year 
			 Age 1988–90 1991–93 1994–96 1997–99 2000–02 
		
		
			 Under 20 17 7 15 19 16 
			 20–24 38 30 40 35 30 
			 25–29 74 87 71 61 70 
			 30–34 57 61 70 66 79 
			 35–39 31 36 53 50 47 
			 Over 40 18 7 11 13 19 
			 Total 238 228 268 242 201

Primary Care Funding (Isle of Wight)

Andrew Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for Health under what statutory powers (a) money is provided by her Department for the development of primary care premises in Sandown, Isle of Wight, (b) decisions about the allocation of money are made by a premises development group (PDG), (c) the composition of the group is determined, (d) conditions are laid down by the PDG after funding has been agreed and (e) the PDG can withdraw funding.

Caroline Flint: holding answer 11 July 2005
	The majority of funding for premises development became part of the unified allocations in April 2004. Unified allocations are made by the Secretary of State under the National Health Service Act 1977.
	The Government are committed to improving the infrastructure of primary care by modernising service delivery, access and choice in the NHS. Increased funding has been made available to primary care trusts (PCTs) to implement these service improvements. Consequently, the modernisation of primary health care premises is determined locally by consultation between PCTs and general practitioner practices.
	We asked each strategic health authority to establish a mechanism for distributing premises development funding within their local health community. In the Isle of Wight, the chosen method was the premises development group whose composition and conditions is set out by the local PCTs.

Residential/Nursing Homes

Madeleine Moon: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will take steps to involve pharmacists in developing and providing accredited training for care staff in residential and nursing homes.

Liam Byrne: holding answer 12 July 2005
	Medication is one of the four key areas of the knowledge and skills sets being developed by Skills for Care in England. The chief pharmacist for the Commission for Social Care Inspection and the Royal Pharmaceutical Society are helping with this development work.

Right to Life

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will make it her policy to promote the equal status and rights of people with disabilities, including the right to life.

Rosie Winterton: The Government are fully committed to the national health service offering equal access for all, irrespective of disability, race, gender, sexual orientation, faith and age.

Smog Warning

Austin Mitchell: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment she has made of the effect of pollution sufficient to trigger a smog warning on the respiratory system.

Caroline Flint: The Department is advised on the consequences for health of exposure to air pollutants by the Committee on the Medical Effects of Air Pollutants (COMEAP). COMEAP has published a series of reports dealing with a variety of pollutants and their effects on health. These are available on the COMEAP website at http://www.advisorybodies.doh.gov.uk/comeap/. The effects of different levels of air pollutants have been considered and a statement on this has also been published on the COMEAP web site 1 .
	This advice has been provided to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs and forms the basis for its decisions regarding the provision of information in the form of smog warnings.
	1 COMEAP statement on banding of air quality:
	http://www.advisorybodies.doh.gov.uk/comeap/statementsreports/airpol9.htm.

Social Care Institute for Excellence

Sandra Gidley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what has been the cost to the Department of the Social Care Institute for Excellence in each year since its inception; and what assessment she has made of its effectiveness.

Liam Byrne: The costs to the Department of the Social Care Institute for Excellence (SCIE) in each year since its inception are shown in the table.
	
		
			  Grant (£ million) 
		
		
			 2001–02 1.043 
			 2002–03 3.195 
			 2003–04 4.750 
			 2004–05 (6)4.430 
		
	
	(6) In addition, £2.843 million was allocated mid-year.
	Note:
	Figures in the table are rounded to nearest £1,000.
	There has been a formal service level agreement in place between the SCIE and the Department since October 2001. This confirms the annual accountability arrangements for reviewing the SCIE's effectiveness and appropriate use of Departmental funding, as prescribed under powers granted in section 64 of the Health Services and Public Health Act 1968. The use and purpose of allocated annual Departmental grants and agreed performance indicators are stipulated and these are set against agreed policy objectives and future funding needs. The most recent annual accountability review took place on 22 June 2005.
	The Government are satisfied with these governance arrangements and acknowledges the SCIE's significant contribution to improving the experience of social care users.

Speech Therapists

David Lidington: To ask the Secretary of State for Health in respect of (a) each primary care trust and (b) for England, what the average waiting time was between (i) a child and (ii) an adult being referred for (A) speech therapy and (B) occupational therapy and receiving treatment in the last period for which figures are available; and if she will make a statement.

Liam Byrne: The information requested is not collected centrally.

Virus Outbreaks

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many small round structured virus outbreaks were reported to the Health Protection Agency in each year since 2000.

Caroline Flint: The numbers of outbreaks of norovirus, formerly known as small round structured virus, in England and Wales, reported to the Health Protection Agency, are shown in the table.
	
		Outbreaks of norovirus in England and Wales
		
			  Number of outbreaks 
		
		
			 2000 285 
			 2001 191 
			 2002 687 
			 2003 220 
			 2004(7) 312 
			 Total 1,695 
		
	
	(7) Provisional data.

CONSTITUTIONAL AFFAIRS

Community Justice Centre (Liverpool)

Jonathan Djanogly: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs 
	(1)  what has been the sentence in each case heard before the Community Justice Centre in Liverpool where no community sentence was awarded since its establishment;
	(2)  how much has been spent to date on the foundation and running of the Community Justice Centre in Liverpool.

Harriet Harman: Since 9 December 2004, over 350 cases have been heard by His Honour Judge David Fletcher. Non-community sentences can be broken down into:
	
		
			  Number 
		
		
			 Fines and compensation 89 
			 Imprisonment 26 
			 Discharge 17 
			 ASBO crack house closure 2 
			 ASBO other 6 
			 Football banning orders 2 
			 Supervision order 1 
			 Destruction of drugs 1 
			 Caution 1 
		
	
	Other disposals:
	
		
			  Number 
		
		
			 Found not guilty 1 
			 Order to continue 1 
			 Committed to the Crown court 1 
			 Remitted to the magistrates court 1 
			 Case withdrawn 47 
			 Case discontinued 13 
			 Miscellaneous 13 
		
	
	To end of June 2005 a total of £2,952,108 has been spent on the foundation, development and delivery of the North Liverpool Community Justice Centre.

Departmental Purchasing

Chris Grayling: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs if she will list the companies from which her Department has purchased goods and services of a total value above £1 million in each of the last three years; and how much was spent in respect of each company.

Bridget Prentice: It is not possible for the Department to provide the detailed information requested on how much was spent on purchasing goods and services of a total value above £1 million in each of the last three years; and how much was spent in respect of each company without incurring disproportionate cost.

Departmental Staff

David Davies: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs how many full-time equivalents have worked for the Department for each of the last five financial years for which figures are available.

Bridget Prentice: I refer the hon. Member to table Cof Civil Service Statistics 2004 which is available on the internet at http://www.civilservice.gov.uk/management_information/statistical_information/statistics/publications/xls/report_2004/table_c.xls.
	This table shows the numbers of staff by Department and agency between 1998 and 2004, on a full-time equivalent basis. Copies of Civil Service Statistics are also available in the Library.

English Wine

Andrew Dismore: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs if she will ensure that English wine is made available at dinners, receptions and parties she hosts at which hospitality involving wine is appropriate (a) during the EU presidency and (b) generally; and if she will make a statement.

Harriet Harman: Any procurement for any functions I host is undertaken in line with the EC's procurement rules and to obtain value for money for the Department. Where possible British products are used.

General Election (Internet)

Jimmy Hood: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs what assessment she has made of the role of the internet during the 2005 general election.

Harriet Harman: The Government have not undertaken an assessment of this area.
	However, outside government, there has been some research done into the use of the internet at the 2005 general election. The Hansard Society has recently published its report on this issue: Spinning the web: online campaigning in the 2005 general election".

Lay Magistrates (Northern Ireland)

Nigel Dodds: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs how many of the newly appointed lay magistrates in Northern Ireland have been involved in (a) more than 10 cases, (b) more than five cases and (c) no cases.

Bridget Prentice: Case disposal statistics are not available for the period from 1 April 2005, the date upon which the new judicial office of lay magistrate was established in Northern Ireland. However, of the 272 appointments made by the Lord Chancellor, 200 lay magistrates have sat in court since April 2005.

Postal Voting

Chris Ruane: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs how many convictions for postal ballot fraud there have been in each constituency in the UK for each of the past 10years, listed in descending order; and if she will make a statement.

Harriet Harman: This information is not collected centrally. However, I refer my hon. Friend to my previous answer on 13 June 2005, Official Report, column 181W, for information on the number of electoral fraud convictions since 1995. I am unaware of any convictions for postal ballot fraud in parliamentary elections; but there have been a very small number of convictions arising from fraud in local elections, in the order of one or two a year.

Sickness Absence

David Davies: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs how many days the Department has lost due to sickness for each of the last five financial years for which figures are available.

Bridget Prentice: The number of sickness absence days is recorded by the Department. The figures are contained in the annual report Analysis of Sickness Absence in the Civil Service" published by the Cabinet Office. Table A of the report gives details of both the average working days absence per staff year and the number of staff years on which that calculation is based on. The most recent of which (for calendar year 2003) was announced by ministerial statement on 1 November and copies placed in the Libraries of the House. Reports for 1999, 2000, 2001 and 2002 are also available in the Library and on the Cabinet Office website at: http://www.civilservice.gov.uk/managementjnformation/conditions_of_service/caje/publications/index.asp#sickness.
	The Department is committed to managing sickness absence effectively and to putting in place recommendations of the recently published Managing Sickness Absence in the Public Sector".

NORTHERN IRELAND

Education (Equality Scheme)

Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland when the consultation on the Department of Education's equality scheme and equality impact assessment timetable appeared on the Department's website.

Angela Smith: The Department of Education's consultation document on the review of the equality scheme and equality impact assessment timetable was placed on the departmental internet site on 24 March 2005.

Equality Impact Assessments

Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland under what circumstances an equality impact assessment would not be conducted when (a) new policies and practices are introduced and (b) existing ones are revised.

David Hanson: To comply with their statutory equality duty under s75(l) of the Northern Ireland Act 1998, public authorities are required to carry out equality screening, and if necessary equality impact assessment of policies, in accordance with their equality schemes and the Equality Commission for Northern Ireland's Guide to the Statutory Duties" which is available on the Commission's Website at www.equalityni.org . The results of screening would determine whether or not an equality impact assessment was considered necessary.

Police Service

Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland when he expects to announce the conclusions of the research programme tasked with ascertaining the necessary vision standards for new Police Service Northern Ireland recruits.

Shaun Woodward: Following the introduction of new Home Office guidelines relating to eyesight standards for police recruitment in England and Wales, the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) had specific concerns as they took no cognizance of handling firearms safely, as this is not a requirement for officers being recruited in England and Wales. The PSNI therefore felt it necessary to initiate a research project, tasked with ascertaining the justifiable requirements for visual standards for recruits to PSNI.
	The researchers have completed the practical aspect of this study and are now in the final stages of analysing the results. The findings of their research will be considered in conjunction with the standards that have been adopted in England and Wales.
	An exact timescale for the publication of the research is not yet known.

Police Stations

Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what criteria were used by his Department when deciding on the closure of rural police stations; and what public consultation had been undertaken prior to the announcement of the proposed closures.

Shaun Woodward: The closure of police stations is a matter for the chief constable, in consultation with the Policing Board.
	The estate strategy, endorsed by the PSNI chief officers and the Northern Ireland Policing Board, lists 61 stations to be reviewed over the next five year period.
	On 30 June 2005, the Policing Board approved the closure of the following stations:
	Ardglass, Castlewellan, Moy, Ballygawley, Caledon, Castlerock, Moneymore, Dromore (Co Tyrone) and Plumbridge.
	The Policing Board agreed to review the following stations in September 2005:
	Ballinamallard, Derrygonnelly, Irvinestown, Kinawley, Rosslea, Lisbellaw, Newtownbutler and Tempo.
	The 9 stations approved for closure are:
	
		
			 Down Londonderry Tyrone 
		
		
			 Ardglass Castlerock Dromore 
			 Castlewellan  Plumbridge 
			   Ballygawley 
			   Caledon 
			   Moy 
			   Moneymore 
		
	
	Each district commander is required to conduct the review of his/her station(s) within the terms of the estate review. When closure recommendations are made, local commanders embark on a process of consultation with local communities on both the proposals and on the best way to continue to deliver services locally.
	Consultation is by way of public debate/formal presentation/public meeting/private briefings/publicity or a combination of these. The alternative strategies for delivery of policing are outlined at this stage, for example, mobile police stations/ motor cycles/community police teams/identified local beat officers.
	DCU commanders conduct a full consultation with their local district policing partnership in every case. In many cases the agreed way for providing police services for the future is formally agreed with the DPP.
	On completion of this process, a DCU commander makes a recommendation to the chief constable regarding the future of a particular station and a business case is submitted to the Northern Ireland Policing Board for consideration and endorsement. The chief constable then engages in a formal consultation process with the Policing Board and this process of consultation is currently ongoing.

Press Officers

William McCrea: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many press officers each Department employed in each year since 1999; and what the cost was in each year.

Angela Smith: The following figures indicate the number of press officers in post in each Department for the year 2004–05. Press officer duties include media liaison; print management; internet; and advertising, as well as servicing Ministers.
	It is not possible to produce figures for the other years requested without incurring disproportionate costs
	
		Staff numbers
		
			 Department Principal information officer Deputy principal information officer Information officer 
		
		
			 DARD 1 1 1 
			 DCAL 1 0 0 
			 DE 0.75 1 0 
			 DETI 1 0 1 
			 DFP 1 1 1 
			 DEL 1 1 0 
			 DHSSPS 1 1 1.80 
			 DOE 1 1 0 
			 DRD 1 2 1 
			 DSD 1 2 0.80 
			 OFMDFM 2 3.6 3 
			 NIO 2 5 4.5 
			 Total staff 13.75 18.60 14.10 
		
	
	Estimated total paybill: £1.9 million.
	The table shows the number of full time equivalent staff as at 31 March 2005.
	The estimated total paybill includes actual salary at March 2005, allowances paid between April 2004 and March 2005 inclusive and overtime payments made between April 2004 and March 2005 inclusive.

School Tests (Reliability Indices)

Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland 
	(1)  what quantifiable validity or reliability indices have been used on (a) the 11-plus transfer test and (b) the proposed pupil profile;
	(2)  what technical analysis has been carried out on (a) the 11-plus transfer test and (b) the proposed pupil profile.

Angela Smith: The Northern Ireland Council for the Curriculum, Examinations and Assessment (CCEA) conducts the 11 plus transfer tests on behalf of the Department of Education. CCEA commissions an external agency to develop the tests which undergo extensive and rigorous testing and analysis to ensure their validity in terms of the elements of the subjects specified for the tests, that they reflect the relevant programmes of study and that the standard is consistent from year to year. In addition a series of reliability measures are used to ensure internal consistency of the tests. The agency is recognised internationally for its expertise in test development and its staff adhere to a code of practice governing all aspects of test development. CCEA also employs a number of additional quality assurance procedures.
	The pupil profile currently being developed will provide a range of useful information on each child's progress, aptitudes, interests and aspirations. It will be based on well-supported teacher assessment rather than a regime of annual testing. CCEA has been developing and trialling the pupil profile over the last two years to ensure that it is robust, manageable and useful for parents, pupils and teachers. Details of the evaluation of the trials to date will shortly be published on the CCEA website. Development work will continue in 2005–06. CCEA will ensure that the pupil profile will meet standards of validity and reliability by benchmarking them against the Assessment Reform Group's principles for effective teacher assessment.

INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT

Asian Tsunami

Richard Burden: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what assessment he has made of (a) progress with relief and reconstruction work following the impact of the tsunami on Phi Phi, Thailand and (b) the levels of assistance being given to support residents of Phi Phi who lost their homes and wish to return.

Gareth Thomas: The Government of Thailand have made it clear that they do not want any external financial assistance for post-tsunami recovery, and because of Thailand's relative wealth, DFID do not operate an aid programme there. We have therefore made no assessment of the Thai Government's recovery programme on Phi Phi.

Correspondence

Gerald Kaufman: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development when he expects to reply to the letter to him dated 1 June from the right hon. Member for Manchester, Gorton, with regard to Mr.Michael Addie.

Hilary Benn: The letter of 1 June from my right hon. Friend for Manchester, Gorton, on behalf of his constituent Mr. Michael Addie was received in DFID on 10 June. A reply was issued on 12 July. I apologise for the delay.

Cotton Subsidies

Mark Simmonds: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what discussions he has had with the US Administration regarding the impact of cotton subsidies on African Caribbean Pacific countries.

Gareth Thomas: The EU and US cotton subsidies are among the clearest examples of trade distortion by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD). The UK was among the EU member states who pushed hard for maximum reductions in EU trade distorting subsidies to cotton in the 2003 reforms of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) both as an end in its self and to push the US to address their subsidies.
	The West African countries most adversely affected by depressed world prices (with support from EU donors including the UK) have been successful in getting special attention paid to cotton in the context of the Doha Development Agenda and a special sub-group on cotton has been set up in the World Trade Organisation (WTO) agriculture negotiations. Brazil also successfully challenged US cotton subsidies in the WTO, with the result that the US has to end some of its subsidies. We have pushed the US to comply with this ruling. DFID also provides support to International NGOs who work with developing countries in preparing for WTO agriculture negotiations, including on cotton.

Uganda

Mark Simmonds: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what his policy is on the level of UK development assistance to Uganda, in the event of a change to the Ugandan constitution to enable the President to serve a third term.

Hilary Benn: The UK has set aside £70 million of development assistance for Uganda in 2005–06. £50 million of this has been allocated for Poverty Reduction Budget Support (PRBS). Our PRBS agreement with the Government links disbursement to criteria on macro-economic and sector performance and governance. All the criteria that determine disbursement levels are taken from the commitments in the Government of Uganda's own Poverty Eradication Action Plan and are designed to ensure our support is transparent and predictable. We intend to take a decision on the level of disbursement in 2005–06 in September when we will assess performance against all the agreed indicators.
	The issue of lifting the limit on presidential tenure, like other proposed changes to the constitution, is for Ugandans to decide. We trust the process for doing this will carry the confidence of the Ugandan people and Parliament. The governance criteria in our PRBS agreement are focused on the quality of the overall transition process leading up to elections in March 2006.

HOME DEPARTMENT

Abductions

Sarah Teather: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people were prosecuted for abduction in London in each year since 1997.

Fiona Mactaggart: Data from the Home Office Court Proceedings database on the number of people prosecuted for abduction in London, 1997 to 2003 is contained in the table.
	Statistics for 2004 court proceedings will be available in the autumn.
	
		Number of defendants proceeded against at magistrates courts for abduction or kidnapping in London, 1997 to 2003(8)(5508040009)
		
			 Offence description Principal statute 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 
		
		
			 Abduction of children Child Abduction Act 1984 S.1 &2 as amended by the Children Act 1989 19 11 18 12 12 12 14 
			 Abduction of female having interest in property Sexual Offences Act 1956 S.1 7 (in part) — — 1 — — — — 
			 Abduction of female by force Sexual Offences Act 1956 S.1 7 (in part) 2 — 2 — — — — 
			 Abduction of unmarried girl under 16 Sexual Offences Act 1956 S.20 2 2 3 — — 3 1 
			 Abduction of unmarried girl under 18 Sexual Offences Act 1956 S.1 9 — — — — — — — 
			 Abduction of female defective Sexual Offences Act 1956 S.21 — — — — — — — 
			 Kidnapping Common Law 76 68 92 71 128 130 152 
		
	
	(8) These data are on the principal offence basis.
	(9) Includes Metropolitan and City of London police force areas.

Acceptable Behaviour Contracts

John McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 
	(1)  how evidence is tested prior to the drafting of an acceptable behaviour contract;
	(2)  what sanctions apply in respect of an acceptable behaviour contract if the conditions are breached.
	(3)  what rights the recipient of an acceptable behaviour contract has to challenge the evidence on which the contract was based.

Hazel Blears: An acceptable behaviour contract (ABC) is agreed and signed at a meeting with the individual involved in the antisocial behaviour and one or more lead agencies. This meeting should be used as an opportunity for the individual and his or her family (if the individual involved is a young person) to discuss the impact their behaviour has had on others. The meeting may also be used as an opportunity to challenge any evidence put forward in support of making the ABC. ABCs are not statutory orders and therefore it is for local authorities to decide details such as what evidence may be used to support an ABC and how this evidence is tested. Our publication A guide to antisocial behaviour orders and acceptable behaviour contracts" provides guidelines on ABCs for local authorities.
	Breach of an ABC is not a criminal offence but should be taken seriously. The action taken is a matter for local authorities and should be determined by the nature of the breach.

Airwave

Doug Henderson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether the (a) Airwave health monitoring study by Imperial College London and (b) the Airwave Patterns of Use Study by the University of Birmingham Institute of Occupational and Environmental Medicine have been published; and if he will place copies in the Library.

Hazel Blears: The Imperial College work is a long-term study. The results will not be available for several years. The University of Birmingham work has now been completed and the report will be published as soon as possible.

Alcohol-related Crime (Bedfordshire)

Nadine Dorries: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many alcohol-related crimes there have been in (a) the constituency of Mid-Bedfordshire and (b) the county of Bedfordshire since 1997.

Hazel Blears: It is not possible to identify offences that are alcohol-related from the recorded crime data collected centrally.

Antisocial Behaviour Orders

Cheryl Gillan: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 
	(1)  whether any antisocial behaviour orders have been (a) applied for and (b) granted in respect of an individual who uses a wheelchair;
	(2)  how many antisocial behaviour orders have been issued with a condition since 1999; and what the most common conditions were;
	(3)  how many antisocial behaviour orders with (a) one condition, (b) two conditions, (c) three conditions, (d) five to 10 conditions, (e) more than 10 conditions and (f) 20 or more conditions were issued in each year since 1999.

Hazel Blears: Data collated by the Home Office for statistical purposes do not identify the personal circumstances of antisocial behaviour order (ASBO) recipients.
	An ASBO prohibits a recipient from doing anything described in the order but the number or types of conditions imposed are not collated for statistical purposes.

Antisocial Behaviour Orders

Cheryl Gillan: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 
	(1)  what evidence his Department has evaluated on the effects of antisocial behaviour orders on individuals with a disability;
	(2)  what advice has been given to (a) courts, (b) the police and (c) local authorities on the effects of issuing an antisocial behaviour order to an individual with a disability.

Hazel Blears: Our publications A guide to anti-social behaviour orders and acceptable behaviour contracts" and Guidance on publicising antisocial behaviour orders (ASBOs)" together with information provided by our TOGETHER website and Action Line, provides comprehensive guidance for all practitioners, including courts, police authorities and local authorities.
	This guidance sets out that, where an individual has a known or suspected disability, a needs assessment should always be carried out. In addition, the courts and practitioners are familiar with disability discrimination legislation which provides a general safeguard when taking court action against an individual that has a disability.
	We have not received any evidence to suggest that ASBOs may disproportionately affect individuals with a disability.

Antisocial Behaviour Orders

Ashok Kumar: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many antisocial behaviour orders have been issued in (a) criminal and (b) civil courts in (i) England, (ii) the Teesside region and (iii) Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland constituency.

Hazel Blears: The available information is given in the table.
	
		Number of ASBOs issued at all courts in England, as notified to the Home Office, and where restrictions are imposed in local authority areas within the Teesside region, from 1 June 2000 up to 31 December 2004 (latest available)
		
			  On conviction On application Total issued 
		
		
			 Area
			 Teesside region(10) 5 (11)48 (11)53 
			 Of which:
			 Hartlepool Borough Council 1 6 7 
			 Middlesbrough Borough Council(12) 3 26 29 
			 Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council(12) 1 9 10 
			 Stockton on Tees Borough Council 0 6 6 
			 England 2,019 (13)2,464 (13)4,4834 
		
	
	(10) The Teesside region includes Hartlepool, Redcar and Cleveland, Middlesbrough and Stockton on Tees local authority areas.
	2 From 1 April 1999 to 31 May 2000 data were collected on aggregate numbers only by police force area (pfa). Includes one ASBO issued within Cleveland pfa during this period.
	(11) Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland parliamentary constituency is located within the local government authority areas of Middlesbrough borough council and Redcar and Cleveland council.
	(12) Includes 104 ASBOs issued from 1 April 1999 to 31 May 2000.

Antisocial Behaviour Orders

John McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether an individual's physical or mental condition which affects their ability to carry out normal day-to-day actions is taken into account by (a) courts, (b) local authorities and (c) the police when deciding whether to apply for an antisocial behaviour order; and whether any antisocial behaviour orders have been (i) applied for and (ii) granted in respect of individuals.

Hazel Blears: Our publications A guide to antisocial behaviour orders and acceptable behaviour contracts" and Guidance on publicising antisocial behaviour orders" together with information provided by our TOGETHER website and Action Line, provides comprehensive guidance for all practitioners, including courts, police authorities and local authorities.
	This guidance sets out that, where an individual has mental health problems or a known or suspected disability, a needs assessment should always be carried out. In addition, the courts and practitioners are familiar with disability discrimination legislation which provides a general safeguard when taking court action against an individual that has a disability.
	Information is not collected centrally about the characteristics or circumstances of persons issued with an antisocial behaviour order.

Antisocial Behaviour Orders

Fabian Hamilton: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to involve local communities in obtaining antisocial behaviour orders.

Hazel Blears: Antisocial behaviour orders are community-based orders designed to protect individuals or whole communities from behaviour that has caused, or is likely to cause, harassment, alarm or distress to others. They involve local communities in the collection of evidence and in helping to enforce breaches. They also encourage local people to take an active role in protecting their communities and making them safer places in which to live.

Antisocial Behaviour Orders

John McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how he expects that the civil renewal strategy will impact on applications for antisocial behaviour orders.

Hazel Blears: The Government's plan for civil renewal, Together We Can", is about empowering citizens to work with public bodies to set and achieve common goals. It will encourage more citizens to work with local agencies to obtain antisocial behaviour orders to tackle persistent problems where that is appropriate, and also involve more local people in developing strategies and activities for positive community action to help conflict resolution and youth inclusion. In providing co-operative and restorative options to deal with potential antagonism between citizens, the plan will contribute to the reduction of the level of antisocial behaviour and the need for antisocial behaviour orders.

Asylum/Immigration

Geoffrey Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many new asylum claims following unsuccessful first claims were successful in each of the last three years.

Tony McNulty: The numbers for the last three years are as follows:
	
		
			  Number 
		
		
			 2002 49 
			 2003 36 
			 2004 42 
		
	
	This information is based on internal management information and, as such, is not published within the official statistics.
	Cases are considered on their individual merits, consideration being given to changed circumstances and fresh information which justifies a reversal of the previous decision. Furthermore, there is provision for consideration of a submission, which amounts to a fresh claim, if it is significantly different from the material that has previously been considered.

Asylum/Immigration

Bob Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 
	(1)  to which destinations in Iraq asylum seekers deported from the UK are sent;
	(2)  what measures are taken to ensure that asylum seekers from the Kurdish area of Iraq deported from the UK are given safe passage to their home area; and if he will make a statement.

Tony McNulty: The Government announced their intention in February 2004 to commence enforced returns to Iraq, but this has yet to start. The overriding reason has been the need to co-ordinate our operational logistics and preparations with the changes in the administrations in Iraq since this announcement was made. The enforced return of any individual to Iraq will be directed to areas assessed as sufficiently stable and where the Home Office is satisfied that the individual concerned will not be at risk. Great care will be taken with all travel arrangements.
	A programme of assisted voluntary returns is operated by the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) on behalf of the Home Office. Iraqi citizens continue to return to Iraq voluntarily on the overland route from Jordan to Baghdad with the assistance of the IOM. The Home Office does not record the destination of returnees in its statistics.

Asylum/Immigration

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many Sudanese asylum seekers have had their cases closed and are awaiting deportation.

Tony McNulty: I regret that information on the number of people who have exhausted all appeal rights and are awaiting removal from the UK is not available, and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost. Some individuals whose asylum application was unsuccessful may have left the UK without informing the immigration service.
	Once an individual's asylum claim has been refused and any subsequent appeals dismissed, there are still a number of potential barriers to removal including, but not limited to:
	judicial or human rights applications;
	lack of documentation (without which an applicant cannot be returned);
	absence of a travel route, lack of co-operation from receiving countries or scheduled flight services (resulting in lengthy documentation processes or use of charter flights);
	maintaining contact with failed asylum seekers who have moved or changed address to avoid detection.
	Information on the total number of cases awaiting an initial decision or appeal outcome, and on applications, initial decision outcomes, and appeal outcomes by nationality, is published quarterly and annually on the Home Office website at http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/immigration1.html.

Asylum/Immigration

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 
	(1)  if he will list the countries from which asylum claims have been refused on the grounds of the internal flight alternative;
	(2)  what proportion of asylum claims were refused on the grounds of the internal flight alternative in the last period for which figures are available.

Tony McNulty: Each asylum and human rights claim is considered on its individual merits in accordance with our obligations under the 1951 UN Refugee Convention and the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR). Applications may be refused for more than one reason. We do not record on electronic databases whether refusals were related to the availability of internal relocation as a means of avoiding persecution in any particular country. The information requested could be obtained only at disproportionate cost by examination of individual case files.

Asylum/Immigration

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what his policy is on the European Charter of Fundamental Rights, with particular reference to the prohibition of refoulement of asylum seekers.

Tony McNulty: The Charter of Fundamental Rights is a political declaration, which sets out fundamental rights, freedoms and principles, including right to asylum (Article 18 of the Charter) and non-refoulement (Article 19 (2)), which already exist in the EU acquis.
	UK law and practise is fully in accordance with the non-refoulement principle. Each asylum and human rights claim is considered on its individual merits in accordance with our obligations under the 1951 UN Refugee Convention and the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR). Claimants who meet the definition of a refugee in the 1951 Convention are granted asylum. If they do not qualify for asylum, but there are other circumstances that make them particularly vulnerable and engage our obligations under the ECHR, they are granted humanitarian protection or discretionary leave. If their application is refused, they have a right of appeal to the independent Asylum and Immigration Tribunal. In this way we ensure that we provide protection to those who need it.

Asylum/Immigration

Austin Mitchell: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what inquiries are made in the country of origin about the cases put by asylum seekers against their deportation.

Tony McNulty: Each application is considered against the background of the latest available country information from a wide range of reliable sources including intergovernmental organisations (such as the UN), governmental sources (including the Foreign and Commonwealth Office) and human rights organisations (for example Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch). Further inquiries in the country of origin are sometimes undertaken when additional information is needed in order to reach a decision.

Asylum/Immigration

Austin Mitchell: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether adjudicators in asylum cases are expected to have knowledge or experience of the country from which the asylum seeker they are considering comes from and may be deported to; and how the Government provides them with up-to-date information.

Bridget Prentice: I have been asked to reply.
	Immigration Judges (formerly known as Adjudicators) are not expected to have knowledge or experience of the country from which a particular asylum seeker comes.The appeal system is adversarial, so the burden rests with the parties to produce all evidence they wish the Immigration Judge to take into account in reaching his determination. The Home Office is a party to every asylum appeal and, as such, is under a duty to place all relevant evidence before the Asylum and Immigration Tribunal.

Asylum/Immigration

Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will review his decision to exclude Northern Ireland as a destination for asylum seeker dispersal; and if he will make a statement.

Tony McNulty: Northern Ireland is not currently a dispersal area. Those making their application for asylum in Northern Ireland may, if they wish, receive support, including accommodation, there. The Government keep their policy in relation to dispersal under review but there is no intention, at this stage, to begin dispersing to Northern Ireland asylum seekers who have claimed asylum elsewhere in the United Kingdom.

Asylum/Immigration

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment he has made of the prospects for the safety of (a) Hatem Mohammed Hussain, (b) Bergu Mohammed, (c) Bakery Elzin Mohammed, (d) Bakhet Adam Ali and (e) Ismail Mohamed Jabar if they return to Khartoum.

Tony McNulty: It is not usual practice to disclose information about individual immigration cases to anybody other than their nominated representatives or constituency MP.

Asylum/Immigration

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what estimate he has made of the number of Sudanese asylum seekers who have returned to the UK after deportation to Khartoum in each of the last two years.

Tony McNulty: Information on the number of Sudanese asylum seekers who have returned to the UK after deportation to Khartoum in each of the last two years is not collected.
	Information on the numbers of asylum applications and removals of failed asylum seekers is published in the quarterly asylum statistics on the Home Office Research Development and Statistics Directorate website at http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/immigration1.html.

Asylum/Immigration

David Davis: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many asylum seekers in the United Kingdom are awaiting the result of (a) an initial decision and (b) an appeal.

Tony McNulty: The available information is as follows.
	Asylum numbers are continuing to fall dramatically year on year, and provisional figures for the whole of 2004 show UK asylum applications fell by 33 per cent. including dependants, twice the rate of the rest of Europe.
	This has been achieved through measures such as the closure of Sangatte, rolling out detection technology, posting immigration officers in France and Belgium, ending appeals in the UK for nationals of safe countries, introducing new visa regimes and bringing in tough legislation to deal with abuse of the system and delays.
	Consequently the number of cases awaiting an initial decision has continued to fall, to 8,700 cases at the end of March 2005, the lowest level for more than a decade (and less than half the level of a year earlier); of these 4,400 cases were classified as work in progress i.e. the application had been outstanding for six months or less.
	Information on asylum initial decision outcomes and appeal outcomes is published quarterly and annually on the Home Office Research Development and Statistics Directorate website at http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/immigration1.html.

Asylum/Immigration

Jimmy Hood: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many illegal immigrants have been deported since January 2005 in (a) the UK and (b) Scotland.

Tony McNulty: Information on people removed from within Scotland would not be available, except by examination of individual case files at disproportionate cost.
	Statistics on the number of illegal entrants who are removed from the UK are published in the annual Control of Immigration: Statistics United Kingdom". Information for 2005 is not scheduled to be published until the summer of 2006.
	Information on the number of asylum seekers removed from the UK is published every quarter on the Home Office website at:
	http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/immigration1.html.
	The latest available figure cover the first quarter of 2005. Statistics for the second quarter of 2005 will be published in August.

Correspondence

Chris Mullin: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department on what date he responded to the letter from Clive Stafford Smith dated 15 May, regarding Omar Deghayes; and if he will place a copy of his response in the Library.

Tony McNulty: I wrote to Mr. Stafford Smith on 8 July. I do not consider it would be appropriate to place a copy of a letter about a particular case to an individual's legal representative in the Library.

Crime (London/Young People)

Sarah Teather: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what estimate he has made of the proportion of crime in London that was carried out by first time offenders in each of the last five years.

Fiona Mactaggart: No estimate has been made of the proportion of crime in London that was carried out by first time offenders.

Crime (London/Young People)

Stephen Hepburn: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many young people of school age have been placed in custody in (a) Jarrow constituency, (b) South Tyneside, (c) the North East and (d) England and Wales in each year since 1997.

Fiona Mactaggart: The available information, which relates to young people under-18 in the North East and in England and Wales, is shown in the following table. Figures are not available for the period before April 2000, when the Youth Justice Board assumed responsibility for the secure estate for young people. No separate breakdown of figures for Jarrow or South Tyneside is available.
	
		Number of young people in custody
		
			 Year(13) North East England and Wales 
		
		
			 2000 (from April) 546 9,612 
			 2001 586 13,436 
			 2002 662 13,061 
			 2003 613 12,201 
			 2004 596 12,721 
			 2005 (up to 11 July) 334 6,608 
		
	
	(13) Table shows all episodes of custody that started within the year in question. In some cases the young person was sent to custody (on remand or under sentence) twice or more during the year.

Criminal Prosecutions

Jonathan Djanogly: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the target is for criminal prosecutions in the year 2005–06.

Fiona Mactaggart: holding answer 4 July 2005
	The Home Office does not set a target for criminal prosecutions.
	However the Home Office does have a Public Service Agreement to improve the delivery of justice by increasing the number of crimes for which an offender is brought to justice to 1.25 million by 2007–08. The interim target for 2005–06 is to bring 1.15 million offences to justice. For an offence to be brought to justice, it must result in a conviction, caution, formal warning for cannabis, fixed penalty notice or be admitted by the offender who asked for the offence to be taken into consideration by the court. Only notifiable offences are counted.

Criminal Records Bureau

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to his answer of 4 July 2005, Official Report, column 125W, on the Criminal Records Bureau, what functionality has been added to the IT system in each of the last two years.

Andy Burnham: There has been no functionality added to the Criminal Records Bureau IT system during the last two years to enable an analysis of disclosure applications by employment group. The functionality would be linked to the data that is planned to be captured on the new version of the disclosure application form.

Drug Rehabilitation

Anne Main: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many referrals were made to the Hertfordshire probation area regarding (a) drug treatment testing orders and (b) drug rehabilitation requirements in the last period for which figures are available.

Fiona Mactaggart: The number of referrals made to Hertfordshire probation area for drug treatment and testing orders (DTTOs) and drug rehabilitation requirement (DRRs) for April and May 2005 was:
	268 DTTO referrals were made to Hertfordshire probation area in 2004–05 (April 2004 to March 2005).
	
		DTTO referrals
		
			 2005 Number DTTO referrals Number DRR referrals 
		
		
			 April 10 0 
			 May 12 0

Drunk and Disorderly Prosecutions

Ben Wallace: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 
	(1)  how many prosecutions were made for the offence of being drunk and disorderly in Lancashire in each year between 1985 and 2005;
	(2)  how many arrests for offences involving drinking and disorderly behaviour have taken place in (a) Lancaster and Wyre and (b) Lancashire in each year since 1997; to which custody suite arrestees were taken; and how many cases subsequently went to magistrates court.

Hazel Blears: The information contained in the table gives the number of defendants proceeded against at magistrates courts for being guilty while drunk of disorderly behaviour", Lancashire police force area 1985 to 2003.
	Statistics on court proceedings for 2004 will be published in the autumn.
	The penalty notice for disorder scheme (PNDs) provides for persons who commit specified penalty offences to be issued with a fixed penalty notice instead of being prosecuted. The number of persons issued with a penalty notice for being guilty while drunk of disorderly behaviour", Lancashire police force area is:
	
		
			  Number 
		
		
			 2004 2,869 
			 2005 (January to May) 1,752 
		
	
	The information requested on arrests is not available centrally.
	
		Number of defendants proceeded against at magistrates' courts for being guilty while drunk of disorderly behaviour"(14), Lancashire police force area 1985 to 2003
		
			  Proceeded against 
		
		
			 1985 1,746 
			 1986 1,556 
			 1987 1,697 
			 1988 1,459 
			 1989 1,169 
			 1990 1,106 
			 1991 906 
			 1992 848 
			 1993 622 
			 1994 732 
			 1995 922 
			 1996 1,231 
			 1997 1,618 
			 1998 1,673 
			 1999 1,827 
			 2000 2,165 
			 2001 2,366 
			 2002 2,210 
			 2003 2,180 
		
	
	(14) These data are on the principal offence basis.

Extradition

Daniel Kawczynski: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will ensure ministerial scrutiny of any information provided by US authorities when requesting the extradition of a British subject under the US-UK Extradition Treaty 2003; and if he will ensure that ministerial approval is required of any British subject's extradition to the USA.

Andy Burnham: The US-UK Extradition Treaty 2003 is not yet in force, although certain provisions in it have been given effect in the 2003 Extradition Act which came into force on 1 January 2004. Part 2 of that Act provides the framework for the scrutiny of requests from countries outside the EU. Requests which are certified by the Home Office as valid are submitted to the court, whose role includes establishing that the request is for conduct which is extraditable in UK law, and that extradition would not breach the person's human rights. Unless discharged by the court, they are then passed to Ministers for consideration of issues relating to the death penalty, speciality and earlier extradition if applicable, and for final decision. There is an avenue of appeal against the decisions of both Ministers and the courts. These procedures apply regardless of the person's nationality.

Extradition

Daniel Kawczynski: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will suspend the extradition of any British subjects to the USA under the new US-UK Extradition Treaty 2003 until the US Senate ratifies the treaty.

Andy Burnham: No. There are full and adequate safeguards in the Extradition Act 2003 to ensure that extraditions approved under its procedures are fair, and these apply regardless of the requested person's nationality. The 2003 treaty has not yet been ratified by the USA, and until its ratification the 1972 US-UK Extradition Treaty remains in force.

Hacking

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many incidents of (a) internal and (b) external hacking reported by each department contributing to the Unified Reporting and Alert Scheme were categorised as (i) access denied, (ii) browsing, (iii) password abuse, (iv) privilege abuse, (v) data stolen or disclosed, (vi) files deleted or damaged, (vii) fraud and (viii) other in each year since 2002.

Hazel Blears: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave him on 1 July 2005, Official Report, column 123W.

Home Detention Curfews

Lynne Featherstone: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many participants there were in the home detention curfew scheme in each month since its inception; and if he will make a statement.

Fiona Mactaggart: The information requested is provided in the table. The figures refer to the number of persons recorded as participating in the home detention curfew scheme on the last Friday of each month.
	
		Number of persons under home detention curfew supervision, England and Wales
		
			 1999  
		
		
			 February 1,351 
			 March 2,215 
			 April 2,035 
			 May 1,872 
			 June 1,891 
			 July 2,097 
			 August 2,134 
			 September 2,069 
			 October 1,964 
			 November 2,006 
			 December 1,990 
			   
			 2000  
			 January 1,900 
			 February 1,820 
			 March 1,969 
			 April 2,028 
			 May 1,988 
			 June 1,971 
			 July 1,971 
			 August 1,896 
			 September 1,898 
			 October 1,908 
			 November 1,859 
			 December 1,757 
			   
			 2001  
			 January 1,586 
			 February 1,607 
			 March 1,663 
			 April 1,573 
			 May 1,596 
			 June 1,618 
			 July 1,638 
			 August 1,639 
			 September 1,626 
			 October 1,591 
			 November 1,738 
			 December 1,694 
			   
			 2002  
			 January 1,672 
			 February 1,707 
			 March 1,965 
			 April 2,103 
			 May 2,300 
			 June 2,327 
			 July 2,292 
			 August 2,410 
			 September 2,384 
			 October 2,431 
			 November 2,584 
			 December 3,097 
			   
			 2003  
			 January 3,055 
			 February 3,019 
			 March 3,128 
			 April 3,135 
			 May 3,112 
			 June 3,174 
			 July 3,262 
			 August 3,772 
			 September 3,682 
			 October 3,574 
			 November 3,613 
			 December 3,779 
			   
			 2004  
			 January 3,523 
			 February 3,444 
			 March 3,602 
			 April 3,615 
			 May 3,588 
			 June 3,663 
			 July 3,609 
			 August 3,574 
			 September 3,465 
			 October 3,430 
			 November 3,351 
			 December 3,363 
			   
			 2005  
			 January 3,215 
			 February 3,221 
			 March 3,417 
			 April 3,356 
			 May 3,337

Identity Cards

Mark Fisher: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether the proposed identity card scheme requires each citizen to be issued with an unique secret pin number.

Andy Burnham: Information on the card will be protected using a form of credential. This may be a pin number, password, biometric or combination of these.

Identity Cards

Mark Fisher: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many kilobytes of memory capacity the chip within the proposed identity card will contain.

Andy Burnham: We do not yet have a precise figure for the memory capacity of the chip as this will be one of the factors to be settled as part of the procurement exercise for the National Identity Card Scheme. This will follow once the Bill has been approved by Parliament.

Identity Cards

Mark Fisher: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether the encrypted data held on identity cards will be protected by a personal identification number.

Andy Burnham: Information on the card will be protected using a form of credential. This may be a PIN, password, biometric or combination of these.

London Probation Service

Lynne Featherstone: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many (a) sex offenders, (b) drug users, (c) domestic violence offenders and (d) mentally ill persons are being dealt with by the London probation service; and if he will make a statement.

Fiona Mactaggart: London probation area has a current caseload (including licences) of 40,568, of this 1,505 offenders were sentenced for sexual offences, a further 5,549 offenders with drug offences, (this includes 1,789 Drug Treatment and Testing Orders/DRRs at the end of April 2005). In addition there will clearly be offenders who have not been sentenced for drugs offences but will have substance misuse problems. There are currently just under 200 offenders attending a group programme for domestic violence. Finally, London probation currently have a caseload of 176 offenders subject to mental treatment as a requirement in a community order and 44 offenders on conditional release from a psychiatric institution.

Magistrates Courts

Cheryl Gillan: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 
	(1)  how many staff were provided by Premier to West London magistrates court in the week beginning 30 May; and how many they are contracted to provide;
	(2)  what representations he has received from the chief magistrate about (a) the staffing levels and (b) the quality of service provided by Premier to conduct custody cases to and from court houses; and if he will make a statement;
	(3)  how many representations his Department has received about (a) the staffing levels and (b) the quality of service provided by Premier to conduct custody cases to and from court houses since it obtained the contract; and how many complaints were received in the two previous years;
	(4)  whether the number of staff provided by Premier at Horseferry Road magistrates court on Friday 10 June was lower than the normal number provided; and if he will make a statement.

Fiona Mactaggart: holding answer 20 June 2005
	Premier Prison Services Ltd. hold the contract for the escort of prisoners in London and the South East.
	11 written representations have been received from London courts since the start of the new contract on 29 August 2004 about a range of subjects including staffing levels and the quality of the service from Premier. Representations have also been received from members of the judiciary, other parts of the criminal justice system as well as the chief magistrate.
	Premier are required to provide sufficient staff to the courts to deliver the services, which include escorting prisoners to and from court, staffing the court cell areas and staffing courtrooms where custody cases are being heard. Staffing levels are not specified; the service standards are.
	At West London magistrates court, Premier have provided the following figures for the numbers of staff working at the court to staff the custody areas and courtrooms:
	
		
			  Staffing for week commencing 30 May(15) Usual average staffing(15) 
		
		
			 Monday 30 May 2005(16) 7 7 
			 Tuesday 31 May 2005 11 9 
			 Wednesday 1 June 2005 14 9 
			 Thursday 2 June 2005 12 9 
			 Friday 3 June 2005 15 9 
			 Saturday 4 June 2005 6 7 
		
	
	(15) These figures include custody officers whose normal duty is to escort prisoners to and from court, but who were available at times during the day to staff the courtrooms.
	(16) Bank holiday.
	On Saturday 4 June Premier did not have sufficient staff available until 09.45 and this led to a delay in court proceedings. This is regretted and Premier have confirmed that they have taken action to prevent this from recurring.
	At Horseferry Road magistrates court on Friday 10 June 2005, Premier provided 10 custody officers. The usual average staffing for a Friday is 11 custody officers.
	The number of staff required in any courthouse depends on the court listing and the nature of the hearings and the contractors are required to adjust it to meet the demand.

Offences Against the Person Act

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many cases under (a) section 18 and (b) section 20 of the Offences Against the Persons Act 1861 were brought before the courts in each year since 2000 in (i) Essex and (ii) England; and how many people were convicted in each year.

Fiona Mactaggart: The data contained in the table gives the number of defendants proceeded against and found guilty at all courts for offences under the Offences Against the Person Act 1861, Secs 18 and 20, England and Essex police force area 2000 to 2003.
	Statistics on court proceedings for 2004 will be published in the autumn.
	
		Number of defendants proceeded against at magistrates courts and found guilty at all courts under the Offences Against the Person Act 1861(17), England and Essex police force area 2000 to 2003
		
			   England Essex police force area 
			 Statute Year Proceeded against Found guilty Proceeded against Found guilty 
		
		
			 Offences Against the Person Act 1861 , Sec 18 2000 6,851 1,249 95 18 
			  2001 7,567 1,310 115 26 
			  2002 6,885 1,379 92 24 
			  2003 6,958 1,391 101 25 
			 Offences Against the Person Act 1861 , Sec 20 2000 5,955 3,948 121 59 
			  2001 5,521 3,910 106 54 
			  2002 5,285 4,046 87 65 
			  2003 4,888 3,970 75 63 
		
	
	(17) These data are on the principal offence basis.

Parliamentary Questions

Humfrey Malins: To ask the Secretary of State for theHome Department when he will reply to questionreference 4785 tabled by the hon. Member for Woking.

Hazel Blears: I replied to the hon. Member on 12 July 2005.

Police

Philip Hollobone: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has for the reorganisation of police forces in England and Wales.

Hazel Blears: At the Association of Chief Police Officers on 19 May, the Home Secretary made it clear that he did not believe that the current structure of 43 forces was the most effective and efficient arrangement for organising policing in England and Wales. He also made it clear that he had no blueprint for amalgamations, but that the initiative for such amalgamations should be driven locally. To inform the way forward, the Home Secretary has commissioned Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary to examine the issue of force structures. As well as looking at the case for structural changes, Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary will also be examining the case for greater collaboration and co-operation between forces.

Police

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the age profile of Lancashire police.

Hazel Blears: The age profile of Lancashire police on the 31 March 2004 is given in the following table:
	
		Age profile police officers Lancashire 2003–04
		
			  25 years and under 26 to 40 years 41 to 55 years Over 55 years 
		
		
			 ACPO ranks 0 0 4 0 
			 Chief Superintendent 0 2 8 1 
			 Superintendent 0 4 14 0 
			 Chief Inspector 0 11 30 0 
			 Inspector 0 36 140 2 
			 Sergeant 0 247 292 0 
			 Constable 223 1,697 904 2

Police

Lynne Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to monitor therecruitment and retention of transsexual police officers.

Hazel Blears: The Gender Recognition Act 2004 enables transsexual people who have taken decisive steps to live fully and permanently in their acquired gender to apply for legal recognition of that gender.
	Police recruitment and other employment monitoring data is recorded and monitored in terms of male or female gender. We have no plans to monitor the recruitment and retention of transsexual police officers.

Prisons

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the projected prison population in England and Wales is in (a) 2006, (b) 2007, (c) 2008 and (d) 2009.

Fiona Mactaggart: The latest prison population projections are published in the Home Office Statistical Bulletin 01/05 Prison Population Projections, 2005–2011, England and Wales". Figures for the years 2006, 2007, 2008 and 2009 for 10 scenarios can be found in this document. The scenarios range from 'High' to 'Low'. Projected total prison population figures (corresponding to end of June) for High and Low scenarios for the relevant years are presented in the table.
	
		
			  High scenario Low scenario 
		
		
			 2006 78,060 74,720 
			 2007 82,140 76,190 
			 2008 84,300 76,970 
			 2009 86,190 76,590

Prisons

Janet Dean: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prisoners are receiving treatment for (a) drug abuse and (b) alcohol dependency.

Fiona Mactaggart: The information is as follows.
	(a) Data for 2004–05 show the following numbers of drug misusers receiving treatment:
	
		
			  Number 
		
		
			 Clinical Services (18)53,903 treatments 
			 CARATs(19) 59,025 initial assessments 
			 Drug Rehabilitation Programmes 7,609 entrants 
		
	
	(18) Mainly detoxification.
	(19) Counselling, Assessment, Referral, Advice and Throughcare Services
	(b) No records are kept centrally of those prisoners who receive treatment for alcohol dependency.

Prisons

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what procedures are in place to help those released from women's prisons to find accommodation and employment when they have no family or friendship support in the location where the prison is situated; and what research on the subject he has commissioned.

Fiona Mactaggart: The Prison Service's strategy for the resettlement of prisoners is set out in Prison Service Order 2300. It involves collaboration with other agencies, voluntary and statutory, at a local and national level. Housing advice projects of various kinds are under way in all women's prisons; and steps are being taken to strengthen further the housing advice and support in those establishments.
	While all resettlement work is expected to address, where appropriate, the issue of employment, and Jobcentre plus advisers are in place at all women's prisons, the Prison Service is working with a number of voluntary agencies on specific projects aimed at supporting into work those women at risk of re-offending, which may include women who lack family and friendship support. The Prison Service undertook a resettlement survey in 2003–04 and the results have supported the development of policy and practice across the whole prisons estate.

Prisons

Cheryl Gillan: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what further discussions he has had with the Jamaican authorities about prisoner transfers since March.

Kim Howells: I have been asked to reply.
	Foreign and Commonwealth Office officials met with the new Jamaican high commissioner on 26 April 2005 where the subject of Prisoner Transfer Agreement (PTA) was raised. Agreeing a PTA with Jamaica remains an objective for the Government and we shall continue to raise the matter with the Jamaicans as and when appropriate.

Prisons

Andrew Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Elmet (Colin Burgon) of 27 June 2005, Official Report, column 1005, on new prisons, if he will list the sites which (a) are and (b) have been in the last three years under consideration for new prisons; for what type of prison in each case; and what stage consideration has reached in each case.

Fiona Mactaggart: holding answer 11 July 2005
	Although a number of sites have recently been identified as potentially suitable for new prisons, no decision to buy a site has been made. If a site is under consideration for acquisition details could not be disclosed for commercial reasons. Any Member in whose constituency where we have decided to buy a site or where we are planning to build a new prison will be kept up to date on developments by the Home Office
	We have opened two new prisons: HMP Bronzefield in June 2004, a 450-place women's prison near Heathrow; and HMP Peterborough in March 2005, a 840-place prison which includes places for up to 360 women in modern accommodation.
	In addition, the National Offender Management Service (NOMS) owns two sites at Merseyside and Thamesmead, London, but no decision has been taken to build on them.
	NOMS also owns land on the Isle of Wight and at HMP Full Sutton. Consideration was given three years ago to developing these sites to provide additional accommodation. There are no immediate plans to develop these sites.

Project Iris

Ben Wallace: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what size data files are being used to store individuals' entry and biometric records for use with the Immigration and Nationality Directorate's Project Iris.

Tony McNulty: The specification of the system states that it must perform to requirements with a database of two million enrolees and there must be no architectural limitations to expansion. The size of individual data files has not been specified within the system, however the iris code itself is 512b.

Prostitution

Sarah Teather: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people were (a) arrested and (b) successfully prosecuted for (i) kerb-crawling, (ii) prostitution and (iii) running a brothel in each London borough in each of the last five years.

Fiona Mactaggart: The information requested on arrests is not available centrally. Information on arrests collected centrally is based on persons arrested for notifiable" offences by main offence group (i.e. sexual offences, violence against the person and burglary etc) and at police force area only and therefore does not identify individual offences nor constituency areas or local authorities.
	The information requested for successful prosecutions for kerb-crawling, prostitution and running a brothel is attached table which has also been placed in the Library.

Rape Trials

Vera Baird: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans there are for allowing out of court video taped cross-examination of vulnerable witnesses to be admitted into criminal trials.

Fiona Mactaggart: The review of both this provision and a wider review of child evidence was launched by Baroness Scotland of Asthal on 1 December 2004. The review group will report to Ministers in the summer.

Rec. 61 Form

Lynne Featherstone: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people have been stopped and issued with a Rec. 61 form by Haringey borough police since its inception, broken down by (a) ethnicity and (b) police station.

Hazel Blears: holding answer 27 June 2005
	The Home Office does not collect this data centrally. Information obtained from the Metropolitan police is that since one October 2004, when they implemented recommendation 61, there have been a total of 2,577 recorded stops in Haringey up to the end of May 2005. This is broken down as follows by ethnicity:
	
		
			  Number 
		
		
			 White 1,438 
			 Black 914 
			 Asian 112 
			 Other 79 
			 N/R 34

Safety Cameras

Nadine Dorries: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much has been raised in fines from speed cameras in the county of Bedfordshire since 2000.

Paul Goggins: Information on the revenue raised from speed offences detected by camera is not available.
	However the table shows, for the Bedfordshire police force area, the number of fixed penalties ordered to be paid and the number of court fines for such offences in the calendar years 2000 to 2003 (latest available).
	Information for 2004 will be available early in 2006.
	Not all fines and fixed penalties will have been paid.
	
		Fixed penalty and court proceedings data for speeding offences detected by cameras1, 2 within the Bedfordshire police force area, 2000–03
		
			 Number of offences 
			  Fixed penalties Court proceedings(22) 
			  Number of tickets(23) Estimated revenue(£) (24) Number of fines Total amount of fine (£) Average fine (£) 
		
		
			 2000 12,600 597,500 671 69,400 103 
			 2001 10,800 650,500 1,022 108,000 106 
			 2002(21) 38,800 2,325,500 473 53,900 114 
			 2003 65,900 3,954,400 1,316 119,300 91 
		
	
	(20) Offences under the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984 and The Motor Vehicles (Speed Limits on Motorways) Regulations 1973.
	(21) Bedfordshire police joined the Safety Camera Funding Scheme in 2002.
	(22) Includes cases where fixed penalty notices were originally issued but not paid and subsequently referred to court.
	(23) Only covers tickets paid where there is no further action.
	(24) Estimate based on 40 fixed penalty charge to October 2000. Charge raised to 60 from November 2000.

Safety Cameras

Nadine Dorries: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many tickets issued following infringements caught on speed cameras have been challenged and upheld in each year since their introduction in (a) the constituency of Mid-Bedfordshire and (b) the county of Bedfordshire since 1997.

Paul Goggins: Information is not available centrally on the number of people prosecuted for speeding offences detected by camera who elect to challenge a fixed penalty notice.

Secure Training Centres

Simon Hughes: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what estimate he has made of the without-profit cost of one bed for one night in a secure training centre; and what cost, including VAT, is charged by contractors.

Fiona Mactaggart: holding answer 12 July 2005
	Letting contracts for secure training centres involves an extensive competitive process to ensure value for money. Costs are benchmarked against a public sector comparator. The information requested relates to contracts with the secure training centre operators and is confidential.

Tetra

Stephen Crabb: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the total value of the contract with O2 Airwave is to provide a Tetra telecommunications network for the emergency services.

Hazel Blears: O2 have been contracted to provide a radiocommunication system for the police service. The total forecast cost is £2.3 billion (at 1999 prices) over the life of the contract. Contracts for replacing the fire and ambulance service radiocommunications systems have not yet been placed.

Tetra

Stephen Crabb: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what future performance-related payments are available to O2 Airwave in connection with the contract to provide a Tetra telecommunications network for the emergency services.

Hazel Blears: O2 have been contracted to provide a radiocommunication system for the police service. There are no performance-related payments in the contract. Contracts for replacing the fire and ambulance services current radiocommunications systems have not yet been placed.

Under-age Drinking

Stephen Crabb: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what sum in fines was imposed in 2003 for sales of alcohol to under 18s.

Hazel Blears: The sum of fines imposed in 2003 for sales of alcohol to under 18s was £89,385.

Women's Royal Voluntary Service

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will publish details of the arrangement with the Women's Royal Voluntary Service whereby, in return for a reduction in grant aid, the WRVS is given help with its property portfolio; and which properties are involved.

Paul Goggins: An independent review of Women's Royal Voluntary Service (WRVS) in 1997 identified that WRVS' financial dependence on Government and restrictions on its property holdings were major barriers to its goals of modernisation and independence.
	To help achieve these goals it was agreed with WRVS that the grant-in-aid be reduced over 10 years to £1 million a year by 2007–08 and that the reversionary interest in the properties held on trust be transferred to WRVS absolutely. The property transfer was completed in 2004.
	The Home Office dissolved the arrangement whereby the WRVS held properties on trust for the Home Secretary and transferred the Home Secretary's beneficial interest in the properties to WRVS (a list of properties is attached at Annex A, which has been placed in the Library). As a result, WRVS agreed to their grant-in-aid reduction. (The table, which has also been placed in the Library shows the Home Office grant-in-aid payments and planned payments from 1995 to 2008).

Young Offenders

Stephen Hepburn: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many young people of school age (a) found guilty of a crime and (b) placed in custody had a previous history of being in care in (i) Jarrow constituency, (ii) South Tyneside, (iii) the North East and (iv) England in each of the last five years.

Fiona Mactaggart: This information is not collected centrally.

Young Offenders

Stephen Hepburn: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many young people of school age have died while in custody in (a) the North East and (b) England in each year since 1997; and how many died of self-inflicted injuries in each year.

Fiona Mactaggart: The following table gives details up to 31 December 2003. There were two deaths in custody in 2004 and one in 2005. One of the 2004 deaths related to an establishment in the North East. It would not be appropriate to assign a cause to these deaths until the inquests have taken place.
	
		
			  North East England 
			  Self inflicted Other Self inflicted Other 
		
		
			 1997 0 0 0 0 
			 1998 0 0 3 0 
			 1999 0 0 2 0 
			 2000 0 0 3 0 
			 2001 0 0 3 0 
			 2002 0 0 2 0 
			 2003 0 0 0 0 
			 Total 0 0 13 0

Young Offenders

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many young people of school age have been placed in custody in (a) Southend West constituency, (b) Essex, (c) Greater London and (d) England and Wales in the last five years for which figures are available.

Fiona Mactaggart: The available information relates to young people under 18 in: the East of England (figures for Southend West alone and Essex alone cannot be provided); Greater London; and England and Wales. It is shown in the following table. Figures are not available for the period before April 2000, when the Youth Justice Board assumed responsibility for the secure estate for young people.
	
		Young people in custody
		
			 Year(25) East of England Greater London England and Wales 
		
		
			 2000(26) 603 1,080 9,612 
			 2001 850 1,828 13,436 
			 2002 769 2,255 13,061 
			 2003 836 1,940 12,201 
			 2004 882 2,117 12,721 
			 2005(27) 468 1,069 6,608 
		
	
	(25) Table shows all episodes in custody that started within the year in question. In some cases the young person was sent to custody (on remand or under sentence) twice or more during the year.
	(26) From April.
	(27) Up to 11 July.

Young Offenders

Humfrey Malins: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many hours on average were spent per week by prisoners at each young offender institution on (a) education and (b) sport in the last period for which figures are available.

Fiona Mactaggart: The following table shows the average number of hours that young offenders spent specifically on education in 2004–05. Information on time spent by young offenders in sport is not collected separately but is captured under the general heading of other purposeful activity".
	
		
			 Establishment name Education hours (weekly average) 
		
		
			 Ashfield 18.3 
			 Aylesbury 6.2 
			 Brinsford 11.3 
			 Castington 14.6 
			 Coldingley 11.6 
			 Deerbolt 12.3 
			 Feltham 10.6 
			 Glen Parva 6.4 
			 Huntercombe 13.4 
			 Lancaster Farms 14.0 
			 Northallerton 11.5 
			 Onley 10.2 
			 Portland 7.4 
			 Reading 8.1 
			 Rochester 9.1 
			 Stoke Heath 8.6 
			 Swinfen Hall 11.8 
			 Thorn Cross (Open) 19.6 
			 Warren Hill 14.4 
			 Werrington 21.9 
			 Wetherby 12.2 
			 Young Offenders Estate Average 12.1

Young Offenders

James Clappison: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many individual support orders have been made for 10 to 17-year-olds under the provisions of the Criminal Justice Act 2003 since the Act came into force.

Fiona Mactaggart: Seven Individual Support Orders (ISO) have been made since the provisions under the Criminal Justice Act 2003 came into force on 1 May 2004.
	We are keen to increase the take-up of ISOs. On 29 June we announced an additional £500,000 to be made available to the Youth Justice Board this financial year for ISOs.

Young Offenders

Austin Mitchell: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what proportion of children released from young offender institutions were provided with accommodation in the last year for which figures are available.

Fiona Mactaggart: The Youth Justice Board sets youth offending teams a key performance indicator of ensuring that all young people serving custodial sentences have suitable accommodation to go to on release.
	Suitable accommodation" means accommodation which, so far as is reasonably practicable, meets the needs of the young person, including health needs and any arising from disability. The youth offending team should satisfy itself as to the character and suitability of the landlord or other provider; and, so far as is reasonably practicable, take into account the young person's wishes and feelings, and education, training or employment needs.
	85.5 per cent. of young people who completed a custodial term in 2004–05 went to suitable accommodation on release.

Young Offenders

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to the answer of 21 June 2005, Official Report, columns 990–93W, if he will place in the Library a copy of the work published in November 2004 by the Public Policy Research Bureau for the Youth Justice Board.

Fiona Mactaggart: The report by the Public Policy Research Bureau on Safer Schools Partnerships was published on the Youth Justice Board website in November 2004. I am arranging for copies of the report to be placed in the Library.

EDUCATION AND SKILLS

Examination Standards

Anne Main: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if she will take steps to make GCSEs and A levels more challenging.

Ruth Kelly: Our White Paper, 14–19 Education and Skills" sets out our proposals to strengthen GCSEs and A levels.
	We will restructure English and maths GCSEs to ensure that students cannot get a grade C or better without passing a functional skills unit.
	At A level we will introduce a new section in papers covering Advanced Extension Award type material and an Extended Project requiring a high degree of planning, preparation, research and autonomous working.

Examination Standards

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what research has been conducted by her Department into the consistency of examination standards in (a) the national tests taken at seven, 11 and 14 years and (b) GNVQs.

Jacqui Smith: holding answer 11 July 2005
	None. While the Department has not undertaken or commissioned research about the consistency of standards over time in national curriculum tests or GNVQ examinations, it takes a close interest in research conducted by others.

Special Schools

Nicholas Winterton: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what plans she has to review her policy on special schools.

Beverley Hughes: Removing Barriers to Achievement", our SEN strategy, already provides a clear vision for improving support and outcomes for children with SEN. It sets out action to ensure that children with SEN receive the help they need as quickly as possible, from schools and other services.
	The SEN strategy was informed by a review of special schools. Special schools have a vital role teaching children with the most severe and complex needs, and sharing expertise with mainstream schools.

Education and Skills White Paper

Justine Greening: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what representations she has received on the Government's 14 to 19 White Paper.

Ruth Kelly: I refer the hon. Member to the reply given earlier to the hon. Member for Croydon, Central.

Education and Skills White Paper

Graham Stuart: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills What representations she has received on the Government's 14 to 19 White Paper.

Ruth Kelly: I refer the hon. Member to the reply given earlier to the hon. Member for Croydon Central (Mr. Pelling).

Adult Education

Philip Hollobone: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what assessment she has made of the likely effect on funding for an attendance at adult education classes in the Kettering constituency and in Northamptonshire as a result of her Department's emphasis on the 14 to 19 Skills Agenda.

Phil Hope: Giving young people the skills they need to progress in employment and to gain higher level skills is essential. Similarly we are committed to ensure that adults have the skills they need for employability. I am confident that there will be a wide range of adult education provision in Kettering and that the needs of the local community will continue to be met.

Youth Services Green Paper

Joan Humble: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what steps she is taking to consult young people on the proposals in the Green Paper on youth services.

Beverley Hughes: Young people are the most important audience for the Green Paper. We will seek their views in a number of ways including through the publication of a young people's questionnaire, discussions with youth organisations and consultation groups with disadvantaged young people who might not otherwise respond.
	In addition, we plan to use a variety of youth websites including Need2Know, Connexions Direct, Youthnet UK and the Grange Hill and Hollyoaks websites.

Antisocial Behaviour

Ben Chapman: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills If she will make a statement on the role of education in schools in combating antisocial behaviour.

Jacqui Smith: Raising educational attainment plays a crucial role in reducing antisocial behaviour and crime by promoting positive values and improving life chances. Our National Primary and Secondary Strategies are improving the quality of teaching and learning in schools. We are also implementing a complementary and comprehensive programme of measures to strengthen schools' capacity to improve pupils' behaviour and attendance.

Key Stage Literacy Standards

Michael Jabez Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what assessment she has made of standards of literacy in primary schools.

Jacqui Smith: Primary schools, supported by the National Literacy Strategy, have the highest standards of literacy ever. In 2004 78 per cent. of 11-year-olds reached the target level 4 of the National Curriculum in the Key Stage 2 English tests, an increase of 15percentage points since 1997.
	In the Progress in International Reading Literacy Study published in 2003, England's 10-year-olds achieved the third highest scores in reading of the 35countries which took part.

Apprenticeships

Mark Lancaster: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many school leavers are expected to take up apprenticeships in Milton Keynes in 2005–06.

Phil Hope: This is a matter for the Learning and Skills Council. Mark Haysom, the Council's Chief Executive, will write to the hon. Member with this information and a copy of his reply will be placed in the House Library.
	Letter from Mark Haysom to Mr. Mark Lancaster, dated 13 July 2005
	I am responding to your recent Parliamentary Question regarding the number of school leavers expected to take up an Apprenticeship place in Milton Keynes in 2005–2006.
	I referred your question to my colleagues at the local LSC office with responsibility for the Milton Keynes, Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire area.
	Information regarding the uptake of places on Apprenticeships amongst 16 to 18 year olds is recorded for the Milton Keynes, Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire area as a whole. It will therefore not be possible to provide an exact figure in response to your question.
	However, my colleagues have calculated a rough indication of the potential numbers involved, based upon the information currently available.
	The local LSC is anticipating and preparing for a 4% increase in the number of 16 to 18 year olds undertaking Apprenticeships in 2005–06, for the whole of the Milton Keynes, Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire area.
	A total figure for the number of participants for this year for Milton Keynes, Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire is not yet available. However, using the available figures, currently at Period 10 for the year 2004–05, officers at the local office have extracted the number of apprentices with a Milton Keynes postcode.
	As an increase of 4% is anticipated locally, the local LSC office is expecting approximately 624 school leavers to take up Apprenticeships within Milton Keynes in 2005–06.
	Clearly this figure cannot be precise and should be regarded as an indication of the potential numbers involved. Ultimately the number of participants will depend upon actual demand from young people and the availability of places from participating employers.
	I hope, however, that the information above will be of interest to you and prove helpful.

Dance and Drama Fees and Maintenance Fund

Gordon Banks: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many Dance and Drama Fees and Maintenance Fund awards have been made in the last five years to residents of each of the nations of the UK.

Bill Rammell: Between 2000 and 2005 Manchester LEA processed 4,156 applications for support from the means-tested fund. Of these 129 were from Welsh students and 113 were from Scottish students. The remainder were students from England and the EU, and we do not have a breakdown of these figures.
	Students must apply for means-tested support for each year of their course, so any student on a course of more than one year's duration will have made more than one application.

Practical Food Skills

Paul Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if she will make practical food skills a mandatory part of the national curriculum at Key Stages 1, 2 and 3.

Jacqui Smith: Food technology is already a requirement for all pupils at key stages 1 and 2. Pupils learn practical food skills as well as basic food hygiene and safety, diet and nutrition. At Key Stage 3, food technology is an optional strand of design and technology. The Department strongly advises schools to offer food technology at Key Stage 3 and around 90 per cent. do provide it for their pupils. Practical food skills are part of the food technology curriculum at Key Stages 3 and 4.

Pupil Mobility

Gordon Marsden: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills 
	(1)  what assessment she has made of the merits of targeting funding to schools or local education authorities with high levels of pupil mobility;
	(2)  what representations she has received from (a) teachers' bodies, (b) local education authorities and (c) individual teachers on the effect of high levels of pupil mobility on teachers;
	(3)  what assessment her Department has made of the costs to schools of high levels of pupil mobility;
	(4)  what assessment her Department has made of the impact of high levels of pupil mobility on other children within affected schools;
	(5)  what assessment her Department has made of the effectiveness of value added measures of school performance in reflecting the work of schools with high levels of pupil mobility;
	(6)  what pupil mobility rates were in each education authority in England in the last period for which figures are available;
	(7)  what information her Department collects about pupil mobility at individual school level.

Jacqui Smith: We have been considering with our education partners, including representatives of head teachers and local authorities, whether there should be a mobility factor in the national school funding distribution formula, because of schools in some areas facing higher levels of pupil turnover than in others. We expect to announce our decisions on this issue soon. Local authorities are already allowed to take account of mobility in their funding formulae for schools.
	This work has not included consideration of the costs to schools of high levels of pupil mobility or the impact of pupil mobility on other children in affected schools. We have not commissioned any research looking specifically at the impact of pupil mobility on others, but we did commission a research study Pupil Mobility in Schools—Dobson et al 1999—DfEE research report number 168" which investigated the general issue of pupil mobility.
	In the current primary school achievement and attainment tables, a mobility indicator is provided alongside each school's value added measure. This provides context for the value added measure by showing the extent to which pupils eligible for the key stage 2 tests were not in the school for the whole of their key stage 2 education.
	In the secondary tables, a pilot of contextual value added" is taking place in 2005. This will directly take account of a range of contextual factors which are outside the school's control and which are correlated with outcomes even after taking account of prior attainment. Mobility will be one of the factors included, since pupils who move between schools outside of normal transitions make lower progress than non-mobile pupils. A similar pilot is planned for primary schools in 2006.
	The Department does not collect information from individual schools that is specifically about pupil mobility. However pupils' dates of entry to schools are collected as part of the Pupil Level Annual Schools census. Based upon these dates of entry various mobility rates can be calculated depending upon the definition used.
	The Department published a school level mobility indicator as part of the 2004 Primary School (Key Stage 2) Achievement and Attainment Tables.
	This indicator shows the percentage of pupils who were registered at the school for their entire key stage 2 education. However, this indicator has not been defined or calculated at LEA level.

School Meals

Helen Goodman: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills 
	(1)  if she will provide guidance to schools on the method of allocation of the extra funding for school meals announced by the Government in March in time for schools to make adequate plans for the school year beginning in September;
	(2)  what proportion of the extra funding for school meals of £240 million over three years will be directly available to schools to improve the food quality of school meals.

Jacqui Smith: Over the three years 2005–06 to 2007–08, all maintained schools in England will receive a share of the £220 million set aside to help local education authorities and schools strengthen their support for healthy eating and to provide better quality food. Of this, £30 million each year will go to schools to help meet transitional costs involved in developing and improving their whole school" approach to food. £30/50/50 million will go to LEAs to enable them to support schools with this process, with an emphasis on schools in deprived areas and schools starting from a low base.
	The first instalment of this additional funding will be available to schools and LEAs this autumn. Further details about the distribution of both grants between individual local authorities and schools will be announced shortly.

School Playing Fields

Ian Gibson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills which schools in Norfolk have requested permission to sell playing fields.

Jacqui Smith: Section 77 of the School Standards and Framework Act 1998 requires local authorities and schools to obtain the written consent of the Secretary of State before they can dispose of any part of a school's playing field. Schools are only allowed to dispose of genuinely surplus areas of playing field.
	The following schools in Norfolk have applied to sell areas of playing field larger than a small sports pitch for the under 10s, that is larger than 2,000 sq m:
	Fakenham High School—applied in November 2003 to sell 16,000 sq m of sports pitch. The School Playing Fields Advisory Panel, which carries out the initial assessment of applications, determined that the application did not meet the published criteria and the application was subsequently withdrawn.
	Heckingham First School—a closed school which applied in October 2000 to sell 2,500 sq m of sports pitch. The application was approved on 18 December 2000.
	Hewett School—applied in September 2001 to sell 36,000 sq m of sports pitch to fund a new sports hall and other sports improvements. The application was approved on 6 August 2002.
	Redgate Middle School—applied in April 2000 to sell 7,300 sq m of sports pitch to fund a new sports hall. The application was approved on 26 September 2000.
	West Dereham VC Primary School—a closed school which applied in September 1999 to sell 2,835 sq m of sports pitch. The application was approved on 24 January 2000.

Schools (Violence)

Edward Davey: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills 
	(1)  what assessment she has made of the level of violence in schools; what guidance she has provided on this issue to (a) teachers, (b) governors, (c) parents and (d) local authorities; and if she will make a statement;
	(2)  what steps are taken (a) to protect staff from violent and dangerous students and (b) to keep students who are judged to be of harm to themselves and others out of the classroom.

Jacqui Smith: In 2003/04 there were just under 88,000 exclusions from maintained school for physical violence, of which 80 per cent. were for violence to other pupils. This total is equivalent to just over 1 per cent. of the relevant pupil population. But any level of violence in schools is too high. So we have made it clear that head teachers may permanently exclude pupils for violence even when this is a first offence. It is even more important to help schools create an environment that reduces the risk of violence to an absolute minimum. To achieve that we have:
	given every secondary school access to high-quality behaviour management guidance and training materials supported by expert advice from local authority-based behaviour management consultants;
	funded extra support for schools facing the greatest challenges through our Excellence in Cities and Behaviour Improvement Programmes;
	provided £120 million for school security improvements since 1997;
	given schools a legal toolkit on how to ban aggressive parents from the site and have them removed and prosecuted if they flout the ban; and
	helped to establish over 400 Safer Schools Partnerships that base police officers in schools.
	In addition, we are:
	giving every primary school access to high-quality guidance, training and curriculum materials for developing pupils' social, emotional and behavioural skills and developing similar materials for secondary schools;
	developing specific violence prevention advice and training in collaboration with associations representing heads and other school staff;
	working with the Home Office on legislation to give heads the power to search pupils for offensive weapons; and
	asking an expert group of heads and teachers to consider what else could be done to promote discipline and a culture of respect in all schools.
	Our guidance and training materials are primarily designed for head teachers and school staff. But they are readily available to local authorities and governors and accessible to parents through the DfES website.

Bullying

Edward Davey: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what estimate she has made of the number of (a) children and (b) teachers who were victims of bullying in schools in (i) London and (ii)England in 2004–05.

Jacqui Smith: Data on bullying among children is not collected centrally and there is no reliable basis for an estimate of prevalence. Bullying cases appear to be reported more often now than previously but we have no hard evidence that bullying is increasing or that it is affecting more children. Indeed, as children and young people increasingly feel safe at school to report bullying, and confident that it will be tackled effectively and sensitively, it is likely reporting will rise.
	However, any level of bullying is too high and we are determined to help schools tackle the problem. Our guidance pack Bullying: Don't Suffer in Silence," the anti-bullying Charter and the anti-bullying website www.dfes.gov.uk/bullying offer detailed advice on preventing and addressing bullying. We also offer specific advice to schools on tackling homophobic and racist bullying.
	We have raised awareness of the importance of children who are being bullied telling an adult about what is happening, through our public information film Tell Someone" and our leaflets and postcards for children and their parents. Our recent Beat Bullying" blue wristband campaign was launched in partnership with Radio One, during the first national anti bullying week in November 2004. By the end of December, 1 million children and young people had answered our call to Make a Stand, Wear a Band" and make a visible commitment that they are not prepared to tolerate bullying and will stand by their friends.
	Data on bullying among teachers is not collected centrally as we do not employ teachers and other school staff directly. Similarly, there is no reliable basis for an estimate of prevalence.

Secondary School Teachers (Early Retirement)

Robert Wilson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what the cost of the early retirement scheme for teachers in secondary schools on grounds of ill-health was in the last eight years in each local education authority.

Jacqui Smith: The available information is in the following table. This shows the number and annual value of pension payment award at the time of retirement made on grounds of ill-health in the maintained secondary sector in England.
	
		New awards and total amount of pension awarded(28) to teachers in the secondary sector on the grounds of ill health(29) for the last eight financial years by local education authority
		
			  Ill health retirements(29)—secondary sector in England 
			  1996–97  1997–98  1998–99  1999–2000 
			  New awards Total amount of pension awarded(28) (£000) New awards Total amount of pension awarded(28) (£000) New awards Total amount of pension awarded(28) (£000) New awards Total amount of pension awarded(28) (£000) 
		
		
			 North East 
			 Gateshead 10 83 10 96 (30)— (30)— 7 78 
			 Newcastle upon Tyne 13 105 10 94 11 95 13 131 
			 North Tyneside 10 83 5 42 (30)— (30)— (30)— (30)— 
			 South Tyneside 9 69 14 109 6 42 (30)— (30)— 
			 Sunderland 23 186 16 153 6 43 8 76 
			 Hartlepool (30)— (30)— (30)— (30)— (30)— (30)— (30)— (30)— 
			 Middlesbrough 19 136 6 47 10 89 6 47 
			 Redcar and Cleveland 11 86 9 67 (30)—; (30)—; 7 81 
			 Stockton on Tees 8 66 12 105 (30)— (30)— (30)— (30)— 
			 Former Durham 35 295 (31)— (31)— (31)— (31)— (31)— (31)— 
			 Darlington (31)— (31)— (30)— (30)— (30)— (30)— (30)— (30)— 
			 Durham (post 1 April 1997) (31)— (31)— 19 184 16 145 13 127 
			 Northumberland 10 90 11 101 12 116 (30)— (30)— 
			  
			 North West 
			 Cumbria 22 172 19 149 12 89 16 137 
			 Former Cheshire 38 344 20 178 (31)— (31)— (31)— (31)— 
			 Cheshire (post 1 April 1998) (31)— (31)— (31)— (31)— 9 83 7 92 
			 Halton (31)— (31)— (31)— (31)— (30)— (30)— (30)— (30)— 
			 Warrington (31)— (31)— (31)— (31)— (30)— (30)— (30)— (30)— 
			 Bolton 16 148 14 149 (30)— (30)— 5 43 
			 Bury 15 141 (30)— (30)— (30)— (30)— (30)— (30)— 
			 Manchester 24 207 12 106 16 135 10 89 
			 Oldham 24 214 7 64 5 56 (30)— (30)— 
			 Rochdale 9 59 7 71 (30)— (30)— (30)— (30)— 
			 Salford 16 130 6 65 8 65 (30)— (30)— 
			 Stockport 11 75 11 115 6 66 0 0 
			 Tameside 5 35 7 56 (30)— (30)— 5 54 
			 Trafford 14 129 5 43 (30)— (30)— 9 76 
			 Wigan 13 101 11 87 9 87 7 58 
			 Former Lancashire 70 527 46 350 (31)— (31)— (31)— (31)— 
			 Lancashire (post 1 April 1998) (31)— (31)— (31)— (31)— 18 148 26 240 
			 Blackburn with Darwen (31)— (31)— (31)— (31)— (30)— (30)— (30)— (30)— 
			 Blackpool (31)— (31)— (31)— (31)— (30)— (30)— 6 58 
			 Knowsley 6 48 (30)— (30)— (30)— (30)— (30)— (30)— 
			 Liverpool 24 193 14 120 6 53 10 89 
			 St. Helens 15 126 13 110 5 41 5 53 
			 Sefton 16 132 16 109 8 68 (30)— (30)— 
			 Wirral 16 116 (30)— (30)— (30)— (30)— 11 130 
			  
			 Yorkshire and the Humber 
			 City of Kingston Upon Hull 19 130 9 67 5 49 6 60 
			 East Riding of Yorkshire 17 144 10 66 (30)— (30)— 10 86 
			 North East Lincolnshire 15 137 (30)— (30)— (30)— (30)— (30)— (30)— 
			 North Lincolnshire 6 51 10 86 9 94 8 77 
			 North Yorkshire (post 1 April 1996)27 231 13 107 (30)— (30)— 12 132 
			 York 8 60 (30)— (30)— 6 48 5 53 
			 Barnsley 14 121 (30)— (30)— 7 77 8 69 
			 Doncaster 13 111 8 69 0 0 5 42 
			 Rotherham 11 88 11 80 0 0 5 37 
			 Sheffield 23 183 11 91 15 142 19 166 
			 Bradford 38 292 21 186 12 106 13 106 
			 Calderdale 8 73 11 79 (30)— (30)— 6 51 
			 Kirklees 23 213 16 124 15 137 9 87 
			 Leeds 26 226 19 160 8 66 18 187 
			 Wakefield 11 76 (30)— (30)— 10 119 5 36 
			  
			 East Midlands 
			 Former Derbyshire 24 183 (31)— (31)— (31)— (31)— (31)— (31)— 
			 Derbyshire (post 1 April 1997) (31)— (31)— 15 137 11 108 13 109 
			 Derby (31)— (31)— 7 58 (30)— (30)— (30)— (30)— 
			 Former Leicestershire 32 284 (31)— (31)— (31)— (31)— (31)— (31)— 
			 Leicestershire (post 1 April 1997) (31)— (31)— 16 125 9 77 20 188 
			 Leicester (31)— (31)— 9 73 5 48 7 69 
			 Rutland (31)— (31)— 0 0 (30)— (31)— 0 0 
			 Lincolnshire 33 233 14 120 15 113 13 129 
			 Northamptonshire 36 286 25 208 16 121 10 90 
			 Former Nottinghamshire 45 391 36 288 (31)— (31)— (31)— (31)— 
			 Nottinghamshire (post 1 April 1998)(31)— (31)— (31)— (31)— 24 207 19 169 
			 Nottingham (31)— (31)— (31)— (31)— 5 48 (30)— (30)— 
			  
			 West Midlands 
			 Former Hereford and Worcester 41 365 15 130 (31)— (31)— (31)— (31)— 
			 Herefordshire (31)— (31)— (31)— (31)— (30)— (30)— (30)— (30)— 
			 Worcestershire (31)— (31)— (31)— (31)— 9 85 11 94 
			 Former Shropshire 16 141 13 124 (31)— (31)— (31)— (31)— 
			 Shropshire (post 1 April 1998) (31)— (31)— (31)— (31)— 6 62 (30)— (30)— 
			 Telford and Wrekin (31)— (31)— (31)— (31)— (30)— (30)— (30)— (30)— 
			 Former Staffordshire 28 248 (31)— (31)— (31)— (31)— (31)— (31)— 
			 Staffordshire (post 1 April 1997) (31)— (31)— 20 172 17 128 13 137 
			 Stoke on Trent (31)— (31)— 6 52 (30)— (30)— 12 135 
			 Warwickshire 16 122 14 117 11 106 10 95 
			 Birmingham 46 383 31 258 28 259 34 314 
			 Coventry 17 134 7 64 11 101 10 81 
			 Dudley 9 67 11 80 12 116 5 49 
			 Sandwell 13 119 8 75 (30)— (30)— 8 67 
			 Solihull 17 137 7 42 8 76 (30)— (30)— 
			 Walsall 18 148 6 50 (30)— (30)— 9 76 
			 Wolverhampton 14 102 14 113 7 101 5 43 
			  
			 East of England 
			 Former Cambridgeshire 18 150 14 114 (31)— (31)— (31)— (31)— 
			 Cambridgeshire (post 1 April 1998)(31)— (31)— (31)— (31)— 5 47 8 74 
			 Peterborough (31)— (31)— (31)— (31)— (30)— (30)— (30)— (30)— 
			 Norfolk 29 267 19 168 20 182 21 160 
			 Suffolk 30 241 18 187 30 282 16 145 
			 Former Bedfordshire 15 128 (31)— (31)— (31)— (31)— (31)— (31)— 
			 Bedfordshire (post 1 April 1997) (31)— (31)— 6 56 13 78 5 32 
			 Luton (31)— (31)— 5 41 5 46 (30)— (30)— 
			 Former Essex 46 380 20 203 (31)— (31)— (31)— (31)— 
			 Essex (post 1 April 1998) (31)— (31)— (31)— (31)— 12 126 15 185 
			 Southend on Sea (31)— (31)— (31)— (31)— (30)— (30)— (30)— (30)— 
			 Thurrock (30)— 21 0 0 0 0 (30)— (30)— 
			 Hertfordshire 39 347 20 166 14 128 23 200 
			  
			 London 
			 City of London 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Camden 6 53 (30)— (30)— (30)— (30)— (30)— (30)— 
			 Greenwich (30)— (30)— (30)— (30)— (30)— (30)— (30)— (30)— 
			 Hackney (30)— (30)— (30)— (30)— (30)— (30)— (30)— (30)— 
			 Hammersmith and Fulham 6 46 6 69 0 0 (30)— (30)— 
			 Islington (30)— (30)— 6 48 (30)— (30)— (30)— (30)— 
			 Kensington and Chelsea (30)— (30)— (30)— (30)— (30)— (30)— 0 0 
			 Lambeth (30)— (30)— 7 54 (30)— (30)— (30)— (30)— 
			 Lewisham 11 99 5 53 6 55 6 53 
			 Southwark (30)— (30)— (30)— (30)— (30)— (30)— (30)— (30)— 
			 Tower Hamlets 5 33 5 56 (30)— (30)— (30)— (30)— 
			 Wandsworth (30)— (30)— (30)— (30)— 0 0 (30)— (30)— 
			 City of Westminster (30)— (30)— (30)— (30)— (30)— (30)— 0 0 
			 Barking and Dagenham (30)— (30)— (30)— (30)— (30)— (30)— (30)— (30)— 
			 Barnet 6 68 6 52 (30)— (30)— (30)— (30)— 
			 Bexley 5 41 (30)— (30)— 6 74 (30)— (30)— 
			 Brent 8 68 6 53 5 53 (30)— (30)— 
			 Bromley 11 91 (30)— (30)— (30)— (30)— (30)— (30)— 
			 Croydon 6 58 7 65 (30)— (30)— (30)— (30)— 
			 Ealing (30)— (30)— (30)— (30)— (30)— (30)— (30)— (30)— 
			 Enfield 12 85 (30)— (30)— (30)— (30)— 6 57 
			 Haringey 10 104 (30)— (30)— (30)— (30)— (30)— (30)— 
			 Harrow 6 45 (30)— (30)— 0 0 (30)— (30)— 
			 Havering 9 83 7 58 (30)— (30)— (30)— (30)— 
			 Hillingdon (30)— (30)— 6 39 (30)— (30)— (30)— (30)— 
			 Hounslow 9 67 (30)— (30)— (30)— (30)— 5 36 
			 Kingston upon Thames (30)— (30)— (30)— (30)— (30)— (30)— (30)— (30)— 
			 Merton 7 97 (30)— (30)— (30)— (30)— (30)— (30)— 
			 Newham 10 96 5 43 5 37 8 105 
			 Redbridge (30)— (30)— (30)— (30)— (30)— (30)— (30)— (30)— 
			 Richmond upon Thames (30)— (30)— (30)— (30)— (30)— (30)— (30)— (30)— 
			 Sutton 6 66 (30)— (30)— (30)— (30)— (30)— (30)— 
			 Waltham Forest 8 64 7 60 (30)— (30)— (30)— (30)— 
			  
			 South East 
			 Former Berkshire (post 1 April 1998)17 120 15 155 (31)— (31)— (31)— (31)— 
			 Bracknell Forest (31)— (31)— (31)— (31)— (30)— (30)— 0 0 
			 Windsor and Maidenhead (31)— (31)— (31)— (31)— (30)— (30)— (30)— (30)— 
			 West Berkshire (31)— (31)— (31)— (31)— (30)— (30)— (30)— (30)— 
			 Reading (31)— (31)— (31)— (31)— 0 0 (30)— (30)— 
			 Slough (31)— (31)— (31)— (31)— (30)— (30)— 5 31 
			 Wokingham (31)— (31)— (31)— (31)— (30)— (30)— 0 0 
			 Former Buckinghamshire 24 230 (31)— (31)— (31)— (31)— (31)— (31)— 
			 Buckinghamshire (post 1 April 1997)(31)— (31)— 10 70 5 50 5 65 
			 Milton Keynes (31)— (31)— (30)— (30)— (30)— (30)— (30)— (30)— 
			 Former East Sussex 21 186 (31)— (31)— (31)— (31)— (31)— (31)— 
			 East Sussex (post 1 April 1997) (31)— (31)— 13 101 10 88 7 52 
			 Brighton and Hove (31)— (31)— (30)— (30)— (30)— (30)— (30)— (30)— 
			 Former Hampshire 56 479 (31)— (31)— (31)— (31)— (31)— (31)— 
			 Hampshire (post 1 April 1997) (31)— (31)— 20 181 18 219 25 261 
			 Portsmouth (31)— (31)— 6 51 (30)— (30)— (30)— (30)— 
			 Southampton (31)— (31)— (30)— (30)— 11 86 8 81 
			 Isle of Wight 10 71 5 42 (30)— (30)— (30)— (30)— 
			 Former Kent 52 403 (31)— (31)— (31)— (31)— (31)— (31)— 
			 Kent (post 1 April 1998) (31)— (31)— (30)— (30)— 22 239 24 229 
			 Medway (31)— (31)— (30)— (30)— (30)— (30)— 5 39 
			 Oxfordshire 23 188 11 91 13 117 10 93 
			 Surrey 32 291 20 154 13 123 9 78 
			 West Sussex 30 225 15 118 8 61 9 70 
			  
			 South West 
			 Isles of Scilly 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Bath and North East Somerset (30)— (30)— (30)— (30)— (30)— (30)— (30)— (30)— 
			 City of Bristol 8 69 11 92 5 46 (30)— (30)— 
			 North Somerset (30)— (30)— 6 59 (30)— (30)— (30)— (30)— 
			 South Gloucestershire 10 83 6 67 5 41 (30)— (30)— 
			 Cornwall 31 227 20 170 8 60 25 214 
			 Former Devon 37 344 38 327 (31)— (31)— (31)— (31)— 
			 Devon (post 1 April 1998) (31)— (31)— (31)— (31)— 13 131 14 120 
			 Plymouth (31)— (31)— (31)— (31)— 7 63 (30)— (30)— 
			 Torbay (31)— (31)— (31)— (31)— (30)— (30)— 6 66 
			 Former Dorset 38 305 (31)— (31)— (31)— (31)— (31)— (31)— 
			 Dorset (post 1 April 1997) (31)— (31)— 5 42 6 49 9 87 
			 Poole (31)— (31)— (30)— (30)— (30)— (30)— (30)— (30)— 
			 Bournemouth (30)— (30)— (30)— (30)— 6 63 (30)— (30)— 
			 Gloucestershire 28 211 12 66 10 90 6 49 
			 Somerset 24 201 14 138 10 107 12 112 
			 Former Wiltshire 25 221 (31)— (31)— (31)— (31)— (31)— (31)— 
			 Wiltshire (post 1 April 1997) (31)— (31)— 5 44 (30)— (30)— 13 132 
			 Swindon (31)— (31)— (30)— (30)— (30)— (30)— (30)— (30)— 
			 England 2,002 16,662 1,239 10,617 928 8,517 971 9,086 
		
	
	
		
			  2000–01  2001–02  2002–03  2003–04 
			  New awards Total amount of pension awarded(28) (£000) New awards Total amount of pension awarded(28) (£000) New awards Total amount of pension awarded(28) (£000) New awards Total amount of pension awarded(28) (£000) 
		
		
			 North East 
			 Gateshead (30)— (30)— 6 57 (30)— (30)— (30)— (30)— 
			 Newcastle upon Tyne 10 123 11 139 7 79 6 59 
			  5 49 7 78 11 146 (30)— (30)— 
			 South Tyneside 6 75 (30)— (30)— 8 113 5 58 
			 Sunderland 9 92 8 107 5 57 8 98 
			 Hartlepool (30)— (30)— (30)— (30)— 0 0 (30)— (30)— 
			 Middlesbrough (30)— (30)— (30)— (30)— 12 141 (30)— (30)— 
			 Redcar and Cleveland 10 123 5 63 8 99 8 109 
			 Stockton on Tees 6 63 11 116 9 105 (30)— (30)— 
			 Former Durham (31)— (31)— (31)— (31)— (31)— (31)— (31)— (31)— 
			 Darlington (30)— (30)— (30)— (30)— (30)— (30)— 6 77 
			 Durham (post 1 April 1997) 15 145 14 154 10 125 15 239 
			 Northumberland 7 60 7 72 11 105 11 129 
			  
			 North West 
			 Cumbria 16 153 17 165 11 151 11 128 
			 Former Cheshire (31)— (31)— (31)— (31)— (31)— (31)— (31)— (31)— 
			 Cheshire (post 1 April 1998) 14 178 16 169 15 203 18 236 
			 Halton 0 0 7 94 (30)— (30)— 8 123 
			 Warrington (30)— (30)— (30)— (30)— 9 121 6 77 
			 Bolton 10 116 7 78 8 76 6 83 
			 Bury 8 77 (30)— (30)— 7 80 (30)— (30)— 
			 Manchester 15 172 11 96 10 149 7 76 
			 Oldham 6 59 6 84 6 86 (30)— (30)— 
			 Rochdale (30)— (30)— (30)— (30)— 7 86 (30)— (30)— 
			 Salford 9 77 7 78 9 97 5 75 
			 Stockport 7 83 8 84 (30)— (30)— (30)— (30)— 
			 Tameside 5 57 7 75 (30)— (30)— 5 50 
			 Trafford 12 125 5 68 5 70 5 58 
			 Wigan 8 108 13 132 8 102 (30)— (30)— 
			 Former Lancashire (31)— (31)— (31)— (31)— (31)— (31)— (31)— (31)— 
			 Lancashire (post 1 April 1998) 36 369 30 321 36 441 27 325 
			 Blackburn with Darwen 6 77 5 45 (30)— (30)— (30)— (30)— 
			 Blackpool 5 48 (30)— (30)— (30)— (30)— 5 69 
			 Knowsley 7 79 (30)— (30)— (30)— (30)— 6 82 
			 Liverpool 9 93 17 197 9 106 7 100 
			 St. Helens (30)— (30)— 6 74 (30)— (30)— (30)— (30)— 
			 Sefton 7 81 (30)— (30)— 9 144 10 129 
			 Wirral 6 50 11 133 9 106 9 109 
			 Yorkshire and the Humber 
			 City of Kingston Upon Hull 9 97 6 56 5 58 (30)— (30)— 
			 East Riding of Yorkshire 8 80 6 76 9 87 5 85 
			 North East Lincolnshire 5 60 (30)— (30)— 5 58 6 57 
			 North Lincolnshire (30)— (30)— 6 57 (30)— (30)— (30)— (30)— 
			 North Yorkshire (post 1 April 1996)20 199 29 308 14 167 9 101 
			 York 7 56 (30)— (30)— (30)— (30)— 0 0 
			 Barnsley 9 88 6 69 11 152 10 118 
			 Doncaster 7 77 5 63 9 105 (30)— (30)— 
			 Rotherham 10 99 6 50 7 85 11 147 
			 Sheffield 15 157 8 90 7 73 8 112 
			 Bradford 18 144 19 223 21 222 22 264 
			 Calderdale (30)— (30)— 5 57 6 50 (30)— (30)— 
			 Kirklees 11 108 26 293 14 161 13 165 
			 Leeds 27 279 23 255 28 312 26 348 
			 Wakefield 9 98 11 120 11 118 11 149 
			  
			 East Midlands 
			 Former Derbyshire (31)— (31)— (31)— (31)— (31)— (31)— (31)— (31)— 
			 Derbyshire (post 1 April 1997) 15 134 12 177 15 166 15 195 
			 Derby 6 60 (30)— (30)— (30)— (30)— 5 81 
			 Former Leicestershire (31)— (31)— (31)— (31)— (31)— (31)— (31)— (31)— 
			 Leicestershire (post 1 April 1997) 9 86 12 132 7 77 16 200 
			 Leicester 9 98 5 51 6 55 5 50 
			 Rutland 0 0 (30)— (30)— 0 0 0 0 
			 Lincolnshire 10 78 14 144 12 147 14 145 
			 Northamptonshire 22 217 20 207 8 81 12 142 
			 Former Nottinghamshire (31)— (31)— (31)— (31)— (31)— (31)— (31)— (31)— 
			 Nottinghamshire (post 1 April 1998)22 235 22 255 18 188 22 318 
			 Nottingham 8 85 (30)— (30)— 7 65 8 103 
			  
			 West Midlands 
			 Former Hereford and Worcester (31)— (31)— (31)— (31)— (31)— (31)— (31)— (31)— 
			 Herefordshire 5 52 (30)— (30)— 5 47 (30)— (30)— 
			 Worcestershire 17 175 10 106 14 169 8 104 
			 Former Shropshire (31)— (31)— (31)— (31)— (31)— (31)— (31)— (31)— 
			 Shropshire (post 1 April 1998) 5 56 (30)— (30)— 6 60 (30)— (30)— 
			 Telford and Wrekin (30)— 24 6 62 (30)— (30)— 9 112 
			 Former Staffordshire (31)— (31)— (31)— (31)— (31)— (31)— (31)— (31)— 
			 Staffordshire (post 1 April 1997) 27 296 27 276 31 375 13 171 
			 Stoke on Trent 10 102 9 100 6 68 (30)— (30)— 
			 Warwickshire 5 57 16 141 9 91 5 63 
			 Birmingham 29 314 26 296 21 274 19 257 
			 Coventry 10 91 7 84 (30)— (30)— 6 67 
			 Dudley 10 83 10 97 8 91 (30)— (30)— 
			 Sandwell 8 98 8 66 8 101 9 127 
			 Solihull (30)— (30)— (30)— (30)— 5 61 9 107 
			 Walsall (30)— (30)— 5 64 6 78 9 103 
			 Wolverhampton (30)— (30)— 7 76 8 102 (30)— (30)— 
			  
			 East of England 
			 Former Cambridgeshire (31)— (31)— (31)— (31)— (31)— (31)— (31)— (31)— 
			 Cambridgeshire (post 1 April 1998)10 79 9 107 6 60 11 140 
			 Peterborough 5 44 (30)— (30)— (30)— (30)— (30)— (30)— 
			 Norfolk 19 165 28 312 17 214 13 144 
			 Suffolk 20 217 29 322 17 174 13 171 
			 Former Bedfordshire (31)— (31)— (31)— (31)— (31)— (31)— (31)— (31)— 
			 Bedfordshire (post 1 April 1997) 10 94 7 79 7 74 (30)— (30)— 
			 Luton 5 55 0 0 5 61 (30)— (30)— 
			 Former Essex (31)— (31)— (31)— (31)— (31)— (31)— (31)— (31)— 
			 Essex (post 1 April 1998) 31 294 18 164 12 134 13 169 
			 Southend on Sea 5 44 5 47 (30)— (30)— (30)— (30)— 
			 Thurrock (30)— (30)— (30)— (30)— (30)— (30)— (30)— (30)— 
			 Hertfordshire 15 129 20 215 18 193 17 218 
			  
			 London 
			 City of London 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Camden (30)— (30)— (30)— (30)— (30)— (30)— (30)— (30)— 
			 Greenwich (30)— (30)— (30)— (30)— (30)— (30)— (30)— (30)— 
			 Hackney 5 64 (30)— (30)— (30)— (30)— (30)— (30)— 
			 Hammersmith and Fulham (30)— (30)— (30)— (30)— (30)— (30)— 0 0 
			 Islington (30)— (30)— (30)— (30)— (30)— (30)— (30)— (30)— 
			 Kensington and Chelsea (30)— (30)— 0 0 (30)— (30)— (30)— (30)— 
			 Lambeth (30)— (30)— 0 0 0 0 (30)— (30)— 
			 Lewisham (30)— (30)— (30)— (30)— 7 85 (30)— (30)— 
			 Southwark 6 53 (30)— (30)— (30)— (30)— 0 0 
			 Tower Hamlets 6 72 7 55 (30)— (30)— (30)— (30)— 
			 Wandsworth (30)— (30)— (30)— (30)— (30)— (30)— 8 108 
			 City of Westminster (30)— (30)— (30)— (30)— (30)— (30)— (30)— (30)— 
			 Barking and Dagenham (30)— (30)— 0 0 5 82 (30)— (30)— 
			 Barnet (30)— (30)— (30)— (30)— (30)— (30)— 6 75 
			 Bexley 5 44 (30)— (30)— (30)— (30)— (30)— (30)— 
			 Brent (30)— (30)— 8 91 (30)— (30)— (30)— (30)— 
			 Bromley 6 66 (30)— (30)— (30)— (30)— 7 97 
			 Croydon (30)— (30)— (30)— (30)— (30)— (30)— 7 74 
			 Ealing (30)— (30)— (30)— (30)— 5 44 (30)— (30)— 
			 Enfield (30)— (30)— 7 79 (30)— (30)— (30)— (30)— 
			 Haringey (30)— (30)— 6 52 (30)— (30)— (30)— (30)— 
			 Harrow (30)— (30)— 0 0 (30)— (30)— (30)— (30)— 
			 Havering 7 58 5 40 (30)— (30)— 5 87 
			 Hillingdon (30)— (30)— 8 72 0 0 5 59 
			 Hounslow (30)— (30)— (30)— (30)— (30)— (30)— (30)— (30)— 
			 Kingston upon Thames (30)— (30)— (30)— (30)— 5 65 0 0 
			 Merton (30)— (30)— (30)— (30)— (30)— (30)— (30)— (30)— 
			 Newham 7 64 (30)— (30)— (30)— (30)— (30)— (30)— 
			 Redbridge (30)— (30)— (30)— (30)— (30)— (30)— 7 91 
			 Richmond upon Thames (30)— (30)— (30)— (30)— (30)— (30)— 0 0 
			 Sutton (30)— (30)— (30)— (30)— 6 78 (30)— (30)— 
			 Waltham Forest (30)— (30)— (30)— (30)— (30)— (30)— (30)— (30)— 
			  
			 South East 
			 Former Berkshire (post 1 April 1998)(31)— (31)— (31)— (31)— (31)— (31)— (31)— (31)— 
			 Bracknell Forest (30)— (30)— (30)— (30)— (30)— (30)— (30)— (30)— 
			 Windsor and Maidenhead (30)— (30)— (30)— (30)— (30)— (30)— 6 68 
			 West Berkshire 0 0 5 55 (30)— (30)— (30)— (30)— 
			 Reading (30)— (30)— (30)— (30)— (30)— (30)— 0 0 
			 Slough (30)— (30)— (30)— (30)— 5 75 (30)— (30)— 
			 Wokingham (30)— (30)— (30)— (30)— (30)— (30)— (30)— (30)— 
			 Former Buckinghamshire (31)— (31)— (31)— (31)— (31)— (31)— (31)— (31)— 
			 Buckinghamshire (post 1 April 1997)(30)— (30)— 9 82 (30)— (30)— 6 104 
			 Milton Keynes 7 84 (30)— (30)— (30)— (30)— (30)— (30)— 
			 Former East Sussex (31)— (31)— (31)— (31)— (31)— (31)— (31)— (31)— 
			 East Sussex (post 1 April 1997) 11 83 10 73 (30)— (30)— 9 89 
			 Brighton and Hove (30)— (30)— (30)— (30)— (30)— (30)— 5 53 
			 Former Hampshire (31)— (31)— (31)— (31)— (31)— (31)— (31)— (31)— 
			 Hampshire (post 1 April 1997) 28 274 21 200 18 234 18 238 
			 Portsmouth 7 81 (30)— (30)— (30)— (30)— (30)— (30)— 
			 Southampton (30)— (30)— 7 76 (30)— (30)— (30)— (30)— 
			 Isle of Wight 5 62 7 80 12 116 12 157 
			 Former Kent (31)— (31)— (31)— (31)— (31)— (31)— (31)— (31)— 
			 Kent (post 1 April 1998) 27 309 19 206 16 187 23 258 
			 Medway 6 57 7 91 (30)— (30)— 9 106 
			 Oxfordshire 16 157 11 109 7 61 8 92 
			 Surrey 10 103 15 158 14 170 13 168 
			 West Sussex 12 115 12 156 10 105 8 67 
			  
			 South West 
			 Isles of Scilly (30)— (30)— 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Bath and North East Somerset (30)— (30)— (30)— (30)— (30)— (30)— (30)— (30)— 
			 City of Bristol 7 65 8 89 (30)— (30)— 5 66 
			 North Somerset (30)— (30)— 5 69 (30)— (30)— (30)— (30)— 
			 South Gloucestershire (30)— (30)— (30)— (30)— 0 0 (30)— (30)— 
			 Cornwall 19 168 15 150 19 199 16 185 
			 Former Devon (31)— (31)— (31)— (31)— (31)— (31)— (31)— (31)— 
			 Devon (post 1 April 1998) 19 173 13 125 18 185 17 216 
			 Plymouth 11 100 11 106 10 149 5 44 
			 Torbay 5 50 5 55 6 64 (30)— (30)— 
			 Former Dorset (31)— (31)— (31)— (31)— (31)— (31)— (31)— (31)— 
			 Dorset (post 1 April 1997) 10 98 12 135 7 85 8 91 
			 Poole (30)— (30)— 7 74 (30)— (30)— (30)— (30)— 
			 Bournemouth (30)— (30)— 8 79 (30)— (30)— (30)— (30)— 
			 Gloucestershire 5 75 14 161 10 133 5 60 
			 Somerset 10 96 17 185 13 154 13 148 
			 Former Wiltshire (31)— (31)— (31)— (31)— (31)— (31)— (31)— (31)— 
			 Wiltshire (post 1 April 1997) 5 49 7 95 6 74 14 208 
			 Swindon (30)— (30)— 5 50 (30)— (30)— (30)— (30)— 
			 England 1,176 11,971 1,162 12,597 1,029 12,147 971 12,350 
		
	
	(28) Annual value of pension payment award at the time of retirement.
	(29) Changes in the statutory regulations governing ill-health retirement came into force on 1 April 1997. To qualify for ill-health retirement benefits a teacher must now be regarded as permanently unfit to teach.
	(30) Greater than 0 or less than 5
	(31) Not applicable
	Source:
	Database of Teacher Records

DEFENCE

Co-operative Engagement Capabilities

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether he plans to fit the Co-operative Engagement Capability to each Royal Navy ship; and if he will make a statement.

Adam Ingram: We are conducting an assessment of the options for providing the Co-operative Engagement Capability. Our studies will be considering the numbers and types of platforms across the joint land, air and maritime environments which may contribute to providing the capability, and no decisions have yet been taken.

Equipment Sourcing (China)

Gordon Prentice: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence which items of (a) Army, (b) Navy and (c) RAF kit are sourced in China; and if he will make a statement.

Adam Ingram: It is assumed my hon. Friend refers specifically to clothing as opposed to other items of equipment used by the Armed Forces. The Defence Logistics Organisation, which is responsible for the procurement of clothing for the Armed Forces has not let any contracts for clothing directly to Chinese companies, although contractors have let sub-contracts to Chinese based companies.
	Clothing items for use by the Army, Navy and RAF that have been supplied under sub-contract from China to date, are jackets, trousers, smocks, coveralls, underwear, shirts, one item of headwear and one of footwear, in the main these are for tri-service use.

Food Budget

Philip Hollobone: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what proportion of the armed forces' food budget was sourced from UK farmers (a) in 1997 and (b) in the last year for which figures are available.

Adam Ingram: For the period 1997–2001 the annual food budget for the British Armed Forces Worldwide Food Supply was approximately £70 million. An average of £30 million was spent per year on meat, fresh produce, dairy and eggs of which 50 per cent. by value was purchased from UK farmers and growers.
	During the period 2002–04 the annual food budget increased to approximately £94 million. Of around £33 million spent on meat, fresh produce, dairy and eggs, 47 per cent. by value, was purchased from UK farmers and growers.

Iraq

Gordon Prentice: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many 16 and 17-year-old soldiers are serving in Iraq; and if he will make a statement.

Don Touhig: It is not British Army policy to deploy soldiers under the age of 18 on overseas operations. Detailed operational information for non-UK forces is a matter for the coalition authorities.

Iraq

Menzies Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence on how many occasions in each month between July 2001 and February 2002 (a) coalition aircraft and (b) UK aircraft patrolling the southern No-Fly Zone in Iraq (i) detected violations of the No-Fly Zone, (ii) detected a direct threat to coalition aircraft and (iii) released ordnance, broken down by (A) amount and (B) type of ordnance released; and if he will make a statement.

Adam Ingram: British and American aircraft patrolling the No-Fly Zones in order to monitor compliance with UN SCR 688 were regularly threatened by Iraq's air-defence system, and subjected to anti-aircraft fire and surface-to-air missile attacks. Between July 2001 and February 2002, the coalition response was as follows:
	In July 2001, there were two aircraft violations in the Southern No-Fly Zone, and a further 23 ground-based threats detected. Five US air-to-ground (AGM) missiles were released. In August 2001, there were two aircraft violations and at least a further nine ground-based threats identified. 10 UK Paveway laser-guided bombs and 28 US Glide Bomb Unit (GBU) and AGM missiles were released. In September 2001, there was one aircraft violation and a further 23 threats identified. Seven UK Paveways and 27 US GBU and AGM missiles were released. In October 2001, there were eight threats identified. Two UK Paveways and 16 US GBU missiles were released. In November 2001, six threats were identified. Two US GBUs were released. There were three threats identified but no ordnance was released in December 2001. In January 2002, there were 11 threats identified and 15 US GBUs dropped in response. In February 2002, there were at least two threats recorded but there was no coalition ordnance dropped in the Southern No-Fly Zone.
	All UK operations in support of the No-Fly Zones were carried out in lawful-self defence, directed at targets which were an actual or imminent threat to coalition aircraft or were contributing to such a threat, and directed only against elements of the Iraqi integrated air-defence system.

Medal Office

Peter Luff: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the cost was of establishing the new Medal Office at RAF Innsworth.

Don Touhig: As at end of June 2005 the cost of establishing the Ministry of Defence Medal Office at RAF Innsworth was some £601,000. It is possible there will be some further staff related costs.

Northern Ireland

Peter Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many operational Army bases there were in Northern Ireland in each of the last 10 years.

Adam Ingram: The information requested on the number of operational Army bases in Northern Ireland is not readily available broken down by each of the last 10 years and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
	However, the following information on military sites (military bases, training areas, joint PSNI/military bases, communications sites and observation towers) is available at the dates set out in the following table:
	
		
			 Date Open sites Closed sites 
		
		
			 1 September 1994(32) 106 — 
			 22 December 1999(33) 72 34 
			 31May2004(34) 46 60 
			 11 July2005(35) 40 66 
		
	
	(32)Number of sites at announcement of 1stIRA Ceasefire.
	(33)Number of sites open/closed at publication of Government's Security Strategy Paper.
	(34)Number of sites open/closed as detailed in Second Report of the Independent Monitoring Commission.
	(35)Latest position on open/closed sites.

Nuclear Deterrence

Gordon Prentice: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will meet Mr. Robert McNamara to discuss the contribution the UK may make to nuclear disarmament and nuclear war proliferation; and if he will make a statement.

John Reid: I have no appointment to meet Mr. Robert McNamara. The UK has a very strong record on nuclear disarmament and we have reduced the explosive power of our nuclear forces by over 70 per cent. since the end of the Cold War. We are committed to the global elimination of nuclear weapons. We are most concerned about nuclear proliferation and active in efforts to combat it. This is demonstrated by the negotiations we, France and Germany, in association with the EU, are conducting with Iran concerning its nuclear programme, and by the assistance we and the US gave to Libya in implementing its announcement of December 2003 to abandon its nuclear weapon and other WMD programmes.

Recruitment

Michael Ancram: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much his Department has spent on recruiting civilians for the UK regular forces in each quarter since 2002.

Don Touhig: The total Naval Service and RAF costs of recruiting from civilian life since financial year 2002–03 were as follows:
	
		£ million
		
			  Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Total cost 
		
		
			 Naval Service  
			 2002–03 5.890 8.100 7.064 8.873 29.927 
			 2003–04 6.505 7.319 8.466 8.892 31.182 
			 2004–05 6.353 9.477 7.741 8.683 32.254 
			 RAF  
			 2002–03 6.717 7.142 8.394 8.757 31.010 
			 2003–04 7.303 9.863 9.041 9.356 35.563 
			 2004–05 6.263 9.132 8.420 12.251 36.066 
		
	
	The Army's recruitment costs are not held centrally on a quarterly basis; details could be provided only at a disproportionate cost. Nevertheless the annual amount spent on recruitment over the same period was:
	
		
			  £ million 
		
		
			 2002–03 62.594 
			 2003–04 66.154 
			 2004–05 74.727 
		
	
	The expenditure includes:
	Marketing costs (national and local advertising, exhibitions, specialist advertising and marketing research),
	Personnel costs (associated costs of recruiting staffs),
	Infrastructure (maintenance and rents/leases etc of Armed Force Career Offices),
	Outreach activities (cost of face-to-face recruiting).

Recruitment

Jimmy Hood: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made of the effect of (a) £8,000 golden hellos and (b) other incentives on recruitment to the Scottish infantry regiments since January; and if he will make a statement.

Don Touhig: The Golden Hello and Army Vocational Bursary Scheme were launched in October 2003. The scheme aims to encourage entrants into selected Army Operational Pinch Points in the Royal Engineers, Royal Logistic Corps, Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers, Intelligence Corps and Army Medical Services (AMS). Awards range from £500 to £8,000. As at 6 July 2005, the Army had awarded 247 golden hellos at attestation. These awards, which are only available to soldier entrants, are paid on the completion of Phase 2 training and all candidates must complete the minimum four-year engagement. To date the scheme has not been as successful as envisaged and it is currently under review.
	Other awards, in the form of Scholarships and Undergraduate Bursaries, are open to officer entrants but golden hellos are available only for professionally qualified applicants for the Army Medical Services.
	The Army does not market any recruitment incentives for the Infantry.

DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER

Business Rate

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what the gross cost is of providing transitional relief in the business rates revaluation in England in 2005–06 before downward phasing is applied.

Phil Woolas: Our estimate of the cost of the non-domestic rates transitional arrangements for 2005–06 before downward phasing is applied is £520 million.

Caravans

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what definition the Department uses of a caravan for Traveller number counts.

Yvette Cooper: The guidance issued to local authorities for the completion of the July 2005 Count of Gypsy and Traveller caravans states that the following should be recorded:
	all mobile homes, caravans, trailers and other living vehicles on Gypsy/Traveller sites and encampments, whether or not they meet the strict legal definition of a caravan;
	touring caravans on Gypsy/Traveller sites and encampments even if not lived in permanently;
	tents, benders or yurts where these are the permanent" living accommodation of Gypsies or Travellers.

Conferences

David Davies: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how much the Department spent on organising or sponsoring conferences in each of the last five years.

Jim Fitzpatrick: The information requested is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Council Tax

Sarah Teather: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what the total collectable council tax was in each local authority in 2004–05, net of council tax benefit.

Phil Woolas: Details of the total collectable council tax in each local authority in 2004–05, net of council tax benefit, are published on the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister's website and can be found under the heading Information For Taxpayers—Council Tax" at: http://www.local.odpm.gov.uk/finance/ct.htm.

Departmental Offices

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister in which Government office building (a) he and (b) the Minister of State for Communities and Local Government bases his private office.

Jim Fitzpatrick: There are ODPM ministerial offices in both 26 Whitehall and Eland House, Bressenden Place.

Departmental Telecommunications

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister pursuant to the Answer of 5 July 2005, Official Report, column 300W, on departmental telecommunications, how many mobile phones have been reported by Ministers as (a) lost and (b) stolen in each year since the establishment of his Department.

Jim Fitzpatrick: The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister was created on 29 May 2002. The number of mobile telephones that have been reported (a) lost and (b) stolen, by Ministers in each year since the establishment of the Office are as follows:
	
		
			  Number of mobile phones lost Number of mobile phones stolen 
		
		
			 30 May 2002 to 31 March 20030 0 
			 1 April 2003 to 31 March 2004 1 0 
			 1 April 2004 to 31 March 2005 0 0 
			 1 April to 12 July 2005 0 0

Emergency Fire Control Centre

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what independent assessment has been made of plans for a regional emergency fire control centre in the North West.

Jim Fitzpatrick: The FiReControl project is a result of several independent reports into the Fire and Rescue Service, including: the Mott MacDonald Future of the Fire Service Control Rooms and Communications' April 2000; The Future of the Fire Service: reducing risks, saving lives", the Independent Review of the Fire Service by Sir George Bain; Mott Macdonald The Future of Fire and Rescue Service Control Rooms in England and Wales: Update 2003" and Her Majesty's Fire Service Inspectorate (HMFSI) Best Value Review of Fire Control and Communications" 2003.
	The proposal is for a national network of fire control centres, which supports resilience requirements and delivers efficiencies. There has been no separate assessment of a regional fire control centre in the North West.

English Partnerships Projects

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what projects English Partnerships have funded in Chorley since 1997.

Yvette Cooper: English Partnerships funded a number of projects in Chorley up until 31 March 1999 when the regional development agencies were set up and responsibility for the projects passed to North West Development Agency. These included the following projects under the Land Reclamation/Derelict Land Grant Schemes—Valley Park Settlement Tanks, Top Lodge and Copper Works Wood and miscellaneous small Derelict Land Grant payments. Payments were also made under the Commission for New Towns obligations for Red Bank Link Road and the transfer of Community Related Assets. Additional funding for the Housing Needs survey was also provided.

Environmental Health Officers (London)

Sarah Teather: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many food providers failed environmental health inspections in the last 12 months in each London borough.

Jane Kennedy: I have been asked to reply.
	I am advised by the Food Standards Agency (FSA) that the information requested is not available centrally. A summary of enforcement action taken for each London borough during 2003 is shown in the table.
	
		
			 London borough Number of formal enforcement actions reported by London boroughs to the FSA for the period 1 January 2003 to 31 December 2003 
		
		
			 Barking and Dagenham 154 
			 Barnet 1,004 
			 Bexley 857 
			 Brent 948 
			 Bromley 549 
			 Camden 998 
			 City of London 283 
			 Croydon 515 
			 Ealing 389 
			 Enfield 1,214 
			 Greenwich(36) 106 
			 Hackney 150 
			 Hammersmith and Fulham 1,154 
			 Haringey 701 
			 Harrow 252 
			 Havering 578 
			 Hillingdon 695 
			 Hounslow 131 
			 Islington 795 
			 Kensington and Chelsea 315 
			 Kingston-upon-Thames 446 
			 Lambeth 1,451 
			 Lewisham 455 
			 Merton 506 
			 Newham 471 
			 Redbridge 362 
			 Richmond-upon-Thames 560 
			 Southwark 1,418 
			 Sutton 446 
			 Tower Hamlets 1,007 
			 Waltham Forest 512 
			 Wandsworth 347 
			 Westminster 1,584 
			 Total 21,353 
		
	
	(36)Greenwich submitted partial data for the period 1 January 2003 to 31 December 2003.
	Notes:
	1.Data are collected under the Food Safety Act 1990 and the European Union's Official Control Directive 89/397. Local authorities (LAs) are required by the directive to report the number of establishments receiving formal enforcement actions in a given year.
	2.Formal enforcement action" includes written warnings, improvement notices, voluntary closures, and food seizures, surrenders or detentions, formal cautions, prosecutions, prohibition orders and emergency prohibition orders. There may have been more actions but, in accordance with EU guidance for the collection of the official control data (OCD), each type of enforcement action is only recorded once per premises per year.
	3.London boroughs undertake both food hygiene and food standards work. The data supplied to the FSA by London boroughs relating to formal enforcement actions do not differentiate between these two separate areas of food law enforcement.
	4.Data exclude inspections to vessels.
	Source:
	FSA, OCD database.

Fire Crews (Attacks)

James Clappison: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many fire officers have been the victims of offences of violence suffered in the course of their employment in each of the last 20 years.

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many attacks have taken place on fire crews in Lancashire in each of the last three years.

Jim Fitzpatrick: Fire and Rescue Authorities have always been asked to report assaults on firefighters but reliable statistics are only available from 2004 when a total of 633 attacks were reported, of which six were on fire crews in Lancashire as indicated.
	
		
			  Fire and Rescue Service Number of reported assaults 2004–05 
		
		
			 Buckinghamshire 1 
			 Cheshire 23 
			 Cleveland 54 
			 Cumbria 2 
			 Dorset 1 
			 Greater Manchester 188 
			 Hampshire 6 
			 Isle of Wight 1 
			 Kent 10 
			 Lancashire 6 
			 Lincolnshire 1 
			 Merseyside 135 
			 Mid and West Wales 5 
			 Norfolk 1 
			 Nottinghamshire 33 
			 South Wales 37 
			 South Yorkshire 20 
			 Staffordshire 1 
			 Tyne and Wear 2 
			 West Midlands 106 
			 Total 633

Fire Crews (Attacks)

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what steps he is taking to reduce attacks on fire crews.

Jim Fitzpatrick: The Fire and Rescue Services Act 2004 makes it an offence to obstruct or interfere with an employee of a fire and rescue authority carrying out his or her duties. In addition assault is a criminal offence and there is a hierarchy of criminal offences where injury results. It is important that such incidents are reported and that the fire and rescue authorities collaborate with the police so that offenders are prosecuted and punished appropriately.

Fire Crews (Attacks)

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister 
	(1) if he will take steps to ensure accurate collection of statistics on the number of attacks against fire crews;
	(2)  what steps he plans to take to ensure that individual members of fire crews (a) are encouraged to volunteer information about attacks and (b) understand the importance of reporting incidents.

Jim Fitzpatrick: The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister issued Fire Service Circular 5 of 2005 on 15 February 2005, advising chief fire officers of revised arrangements for reporting Fires and Incidents of Special Interest (FOSIs). This reinforces earlier guidance about reporting and requires information to be supplied about attacks on firefighters. A copy of this circular has been placed in the Library of the House. Ensuring that their employees report all such incidents is a matter for fire and rescue authorities.

Fire Crews (Attacks)

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will take steps to increase the monitoring and evaluation of campaigns and community-based projects with those who have attacked and who may attack fire crews.

Jim Fitzpatrick: The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister has commissioned external consultants to evaluate the range of youth diversion/youth intervention schemes currently undertaken by the fire and rescue services and others in order to identify examples which we can disseminate as good practice for fire and rescue authorities to use.

Fire Crews (Attacks)

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what steps (a) have been taken and (b) are planned to increase the amount of training provided to fire crews for dynamic risk assessment; and what part such training will play in the strategy for reducing attacks on fire crews.

Jim Fitzpatrick: The amount of training required to deal with attacks on firefighters, including training in dynamic risk assessment, is a matter for fire and rescue authorities who tailor the training to meet the need. National standards for firefighters (known as the firefighter role map") include a number of elements relating to dynamic risk assessment. I understand that the Chief Fire Officers Association (CFOA) has set up a task and finish group, to review practice relating to assaults on firefighters and to make recommendations. Conflict management training along the lines of that given to police and ambulance workers is being piloted in South Wales and other initiatives are being considered by the CFOA Group.

Fire Crews (Attacks)

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what (a) short-term and (b) long-term plans he has for (i) continuation and (ii) extension of (A) training of fire crews in dealing with attacks on them and (B) initiatives with (1) local schools and (2) the community in respect of such attacks.

Jim Fitzpatrick: In relation to A, I refer the hon. Member to the answer given on 14 July 2005 (Ref: 6693). In relation to B, fire and rescue authorities have a new duty under Section 6 of the Fire and Rescue Service Act 2004 to promote fire safety. Under the arrangements for Integrated Risk Management Planning, it is for individual authorities to decide how to fulfil that duty, following consultation, but I know that many schemes and partnerships exist where the Fire and Rescue Service engages with the local community and schools. These can have a direct impact on behaviour.

Firelink Project

John McDonnell: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what the timetable is for the implementation of the Firelink Project; and if he will make a statement.

Jim Fitzpatrick: The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister expects to award contract in November 2005. The overall time scale for implementation will depend on the outcome of the procurements and will reflect the successful suppliers' proposals.

Firelink Project

John McDonnell: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister whether either of the bidding companies for the Firelink Project provided the basis to proceed to contract following their best and final offer submissions in April.

Jim Fitzpatrick: Neither bidding company provided the basis to move to award the Firelink contract. The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister is continuing discussions with both bidding companies to resolve issues associated with their bids prior to inviting revised best and final offers.

Firelink Project

David Drew: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister when he expects to make a decision on Firelink.

Jim Fitzpatrick: The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister expects to award the Firelink contract in November 2005.

Firelink Project

David Drew: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister whether regionalisation of fire control centres is dependent on the Firelink project; and if he will make a statement.

Jim Fitzpatrick: FiReControl will use the digital national radio solution provided by Firelink as its primary bearer for voice and data. The Firelink project is working closely with the FiReControl project as part of an integrated programme to deliver an integrated, resilient command and control system for the Fire and Rescue Service in England.

Housing

Norman Baker: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many houses have been built in each year since 1995; how many of these houses were subjected to air pressure tests during the course of their construction; and what the results were.

Yvette Cooper: Statistics published by the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister show about 1.5 million dwellings were built in England and Wales in the decade to April 2005. Statistics on pressure tests are not collected. I am aware that pressure tests have been carried out on about 150 houses built to comply with the Building Regulations as amended in April 2002. The approved documents supporting that amendment covered air tightness for the first time. While there was no evidence of overall non-compliance, the evidence is that the pressure test results were unsatisfactory. This has prompted consideration of stronger requirements for testing and improved technical guidance.

Housing

Gordon Prentice: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what assurances he is seeking from Pendle borough council before agreeing its proposals to transfer its housing stock.

Yvette Cooper: The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister is seeking an assurance that the gap funding requested by Pendle borough council to support its transfer is the minimum necessary to deliver the proposed transfer.

Kanes Food

Peter Luff: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will make it his policy to conduct a public inquiry into the planning application by Kanes Food at Middle Littleton to expand their existing operations.

Yvette Cooper: Wychavon district council has submitted the planning application by Kanes Foods Ltd. to the Secretary of State as a departure from the local plan. We are currently considering whether it is necessary to call in the planning application for the Secretary of State to decide himself, instead of leaving the decision to the local planning authority. A public inquiry will be held if the application is called in. I will advise the hon. Member of our decision.

Local Authorities

Greg Hands: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what the Government's policy is on what should constitute a threshold for a key decision made by a local authority.

Phil Woolas: It is a matter for each local authority to decide its threshold for key decisions, having regard to the statutory guidance which the Government have issued under the Local Government Act 2000. This guidance states that in setting such thresholds a local authority will need to bear in mind the underlying principles of accountable decision making that there should be a presumption towards openness so that local people have knowledge sufficiently in advance of all those decisions which will be of genuine concern to local communities.

Local Government Finance

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister pursuant to the answer of 30 June 2005, Official Report, column 1653W, on local government finance, if he will list the local authorities to which the questionnaire was sent; and what criteria were used to select the local authorities.

Phil Woolas: The questionnaire was sent to local authorities with representatives on a practical implementation working group on council tax revaluation set up by the ODPM and on a software suppliers forum that exists to consider possible software issues arising from changes to the council tax and business rates regime. The local authorities concerned are Birmingham city council, City of London, Derby city council, the London borough of Redbridge, Sedgemoor district council, Slough borough council, Somerset county council, the London borough of Tower Hamlets and Weymouth and Portland borough council.

Millennium Dome

Barry Sheerman: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister pursuant to the answer of 27 June 2005, Official Report, column 1313W, on the millennium dome, what discussion he has had with English Partnerships on making the car park for which it is responsible available for use now.

Jim Fitzpatrick: No such discussions have been held. The future use of English Partnerships' land next to or near the millennium dome that was previously used for car parking has been settled through the usual planning process, in the context of the commercial deal between English Partnerships and Meridian Delta Ltd. and Anschutz Entertainment Group for the future use of the dome and land on the Greenwich Peninsula.
	Car parking on the land referred to in the answer of 27 June 2005, Official Report, column 1313W, could only be made available for a relatively short period of time because Anschutz Entertainment Group has rights during the next two years to carry out works to this and other adjacent land in preparation for its own car parking use in respect of the arena when it opens in spring 2007.

Mobile Phone Masts

Stephen Hammond: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what criteria were used in making the decision to exempt the installation of mobile phone masts up to 15 m high from the normal planning permission requirements.

Yvette Cooper: The permitted development rights granting general planning permission for telecommunications apparatus below 15 m were introduced by the Town and Country Planning General Development (Amendment) Order 1985".
	In 2000, the Stewart Report recommended that all base stations, including those up to 15 m, should be subject to the normal planning process in order to improve local consultation. The arrangements we put in place following the Stewart Report provide for the same consultation on base stations up to 15 m in height as is required by full planning permission.

Publications

David Amess: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will list the publications issued by his Department in each of the last seven years; and what the (a) circulation, (b) cost and (c) purpose of each was.

Jim Fitzpatrick: The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister was created on 29 May 2002.
	The information requested is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Research

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will list the research projects commissioned since the creation of the Department; and what the timetable is for the publication of each piece of research that has yet to be completed.

Jim Fitzpatrick: A list of all research projects commissioned by the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister is available from the Research Management Database (RMD) at http://www.rmd.odpm.gov.uk.
	Under the ODPM Publication Scheme, we are committed to publishing research project reports within six months of project completion or, at the latest, when quality checks, including relevant peer review, are completed or when a policy decision based on its findings is publicised. Information on the project completion date is contained in the Research Management Database.
	There are agreed publication timetables for a number of statistical research projects. This information is regularly updated and available at: http://www.odpm.gov.uk/stellent/groups/odpm_about/documents/page/odpm_about_609298.hcsp

Social Landlords

Austin Mitchell: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will list the registered social landlords which have broken (a) a rent guarantee made to tenants and (b) Housing Corporation rent guidelines since 1998; and how many homes were affected in each case.

Yvette Cooper: I refer my hon. Friend to the answer given on 8 June 2005, Official Report, columns 560–62W. Only those registered social landlords which have received housing from local authorities as part of the large scale voluntary transfer programme have made rent guarantees to tenants.

Social Landlords

Austin Mitchell: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will list the registered social landlords which have been put under supervision by the Housing Corporation; how many homes each is responsible for; and what the duration of the supervision period is in each case.

Yvette Cooper: The information cannot be provided in the form requested. The Housing Corporation's regulatory regime was set up in the late 1970s and records held do not date back this far. The corporation holds information on resolved supervision cases from 2000 onwards but the information does not identify stock figures at the time of supervision. It also holds information on current supervision cases, which does identify stock figures. This information has been made available in the Library of the House.

Water Supply

Peter Ainsworth: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what representations he has (a) sought and (b) received from Sutton and East Surrey Water plc regarding its ability to meet the future demand for water supply arising from the proposed increase in new housing completions in their catchment area.

Yvette Cooper: My right hon. Friend the Deputy Prime Minister has neither sought or received such representations. Water companies from across the South East and the Environment Agency are working with the South East England Regional Assembly to consider future water supply requirements as part of the process of preparing the South East Plan.

WORK AND PENSIONS

Benefit Fraud

John Pugh: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what percentage of benefit fraud cases involved the claimant using a false name in the last period for which figures are available.

James Plaskitt: Precise figures are not available. The Counter Fraud Investigation Service (CFIS) which investigates the majority of benefit fraud does not keep a separate record of such cases.
	The National Investigation Service (NIS) whose investigations focus on the most serious benefit frauds secured 175 convictions in 2004–05 for cases involving false identities. We estimate that half of these cases involved using false identities in order to claim benefit and half were attempts simply to obtain national insurance numbers.
	In 2004–05 the Department and local authorities together conducted a total of 13,261 successful prosecutions for benefit fraud.

Benefit Fraud

Stephen Crabb: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many calls there were to the benefit fraud hotline in each month of the last year for which figures are available.

James Plaskitt: The information is in the table:
	
		Calls made to the national benefit fraud hotline, 2004–05
		
			  Number 
		
		
			 2004  
			 April 17,538 
			 May 20,640 
			 June 28,696 
			 July 36,984 
			 August 23,814 
			 September 23,540 
			 October 17,902 
			 November 27,017 
			 December 12,936 
			 2005  
			 January 19,817 
			 February 25,706 
			 March 23,923 
			 Total 278,513 
		
	
	Note:
	The number of calls made includes all calls registered as hitting the telephone system including calls not answered e.g. where the caller may have hung up before being answered.
	Source:
	National Benefit Fraud Hotline

Benefit Fraud

Stephen Crabb: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the total budget for the benefit fraud hotline was for each year since the service commenced.

James Plaskitt: The available information is in the table.
	
		National benefit fraud hotline budget allocation
		
			  £ 
		
		
			 2001–02 1,086,000 
			 2002–03 959,277 
			 2003–04 957,977 
			 2004–05 1,192,843 
		
	
	Notes:
	1.Figures include goods, services and staffing costs.
	2.The national benefit fraud hotline (NBFH) commenced in August 1996. Information around budget allocation is available only from year ending 2001–02. Prior to this NBFH fell under BA Security", and figures on funding and budget costs are no longer available.
	3.The operational costs of administering the national benefit fraud hotline include the costs of administering the report-a-cheat-online service. These costs cannot be separated.
	Source:
	National Intelligence Unit and Resource Management and IT

Benefit Fraud

Stephen Crabb: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how much fraudulently-claimed benefit was recovered as a result of calls made to the benefit fraud hotline in each year since the service commenced.

James Plaskitt: The information requested is not available.

Benefit Fraud

Stephen Crabb: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many convictions have resulted from calls to the benefit fraud hotline in each year since the service started.

James Plaskitt: The information is in the table.
	
		Convictions resulting from calls to the nationalbenefit fraud hotline
		
			  Number 
		
		
			 1999–2000 335 
			 2000–01 492 
			 2001–02 703 
			 2002–03 706 
			 2003–04 619 
			 2004–05 655 
		
	
	Note:
	Full information on the number of convictions resulting from calls to the national benefit fraud hotline is available only from April 1999.
	Source:
	Fraud Information by Sector system

Benefits (16-hour Rule)

Richard Burden: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what assessment he has made of the impact of the 16-hour rule on measures to encourage people on benefits to take-up training opportunities; and what discussions he has had with colleagues in other departments on the subject.

James Plaskitt: The part-time (16-hour) study rule is used to determine whether certain courses are part-time or full-time. People opting to study full-time in both higher and further education are the responsibility of the education system.
	However, we recognise the need to increase the skills of jobseekers to meet the needs of their local labour market and currently fund various training schemes and employment programmes that are targeted towards those at a disadvantage in the labour market. The new deals and work based learning for adults are examples of this and participants receive a training allowance equivalent to their benefit and, in most circumstances, a top-up payment.
	We are currently working with the Learning and Skills Council to make greater use of their provision and, from September 2006, will be piloting the adult learning option. The pilot will be aimed at people whose lack of skills is the barrier preventing them from getting a job. Pilot participants will undertake full-time learning and receive a training allowance.

Child Support Agency

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what definition the Child Support Agency uses of the term sensitive case; how many cases the Sensitive Case Team has dealt with in each year since its establishment; how many times unauthorised access to sensitive cases has been detected; and how many checks have been made on sensitive cases.

James Plaskitt: The administration of the Child Support Agency is a matter for the Chief Executive, Mr.Stephen Geraghty. He will write to the hon. Member with the information requested.
	Letter from Stephen Geraghty to Mr. David Laws, dated 14 July 2005
	In reply to your recent Parliamentary Question about the Child Support Agency the Secretary of State promised a substantive reply from the Chief Executive.
	You asked the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what definition the Child Support Agency uses of the term sensitive case; how many cases the Sensitive Case Team has dealt with in each year since its establishment; how many times unauthorised access to sensitive cases has been detected; and how many checkes have been made on sensitive cases.
	Within the Child Support Agency all Nationally Sensitive cases are dealt with by a team located in Falkirk. Sensitive cases are those cases that require special handling in order to restrict access to information and to protect the account from unauthorised amendments. Sensitive cases cover a wide range of circumstances including partners at risk of violence, people on witness protection, transsexuals and VIPs.
	A yearly breakdown of the number of Nationally Sensitive cases is unavailable. However, there are currently 410 live cases, of which 238 are on the old scheme and 172 on the new scheme.
	Since the inception of the Nationally Sensitive Case team within the Child Support Agency there have been no instances of unauthorised access to these cases detected. Information is not available as to how many checks have been carried out on Nationally Sensitive cases. However, they are all subject to 100 per cent checking which means that every time the case is actioned it is checked to ensure the Nationally Sensitive marking is still relevant.
	I hope you find this information of use.

Child Support Agency

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions 
	(1)  how much compensation has been sought from EDS by the Child Support Agency; how much has been received; and on what grounds compensation has been sought;
	(2)  if he will list payments (a) made to and (b) withheld from EDS for the new Child Support Agency computer system.

James Plaskitt: The administration of the Child Support Agency is a matter for the chief executive, Mr. Stephen Geraghty. He will write to the hon. Member.
	Letter from Stephen Geraghty to Mr. David Laws, dated 14 July 2005
	In reply to your recent Parliamentary Questions about the Child Support Agency the Secretary of State promised a substantive reply from the Chief Executive.
	You also asked the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how much compensation has been sought from EDS by the Child Support Agency; how much has been received; and on what grounds compensation has been sought. You also asked the Secretary of State to list payments (a) made to and (b) withheld from EDS for the new Child Support Agency computer system.
	The Department has not sought compensation from EDS as such. The Child Support Agency contract with EDS allows the Department to adjust payments according to the degree of IT functionality delivered and the level of service received against targets. We have previously reported in response to a Parliamentary Question on 18 November 2004, Official Report, column 1,874W that payments made to EDS between 3 March 2003 and 19 September 2004 under the Child Support Reform contract amounted to £62.08 million. During the same period the Department withheld £12.1 million as a result of service and performance issues.
	The Department is currently in financial negotiations with EDS about the payments which should be made in total for the Child Support Agency computer system. I regret that I am unable to provide specific detail in relation to payments made and withheld since 19 September as the release of this information could prejudice commercial interests.
	I am sorry that we are not able to be more helpful at present.

Child Support Agency

Anne Main: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions 
	(1)  how many people in (a) the UK and (b) St. Albans are still waiting to be moved to assessment under the new Child Support Agency regulations; and what assessment he has made of the time taken for the transition to be completed;
	(2)  what the average level of overpayment has been by parents in St. Albans who are being assessed under the old Child Support Agency regulations whose cases have not yet been re-evaluated under the new regulations; and if he will make a statement.

James Plaskitt: Although at the end of May 2005 there were around 955,000 cases being progressed under the old scheme in Great Britain information about the number of people waiting to be moved to the new scheme is not available. This is because not all of these cases will be appropriate to move to the new scheme. For example, this figure includes cases which involve payment of arrears where there is no on-going liability for maintenance.
	Unfortunately information is not available at constituency or local authority level.
	Those customers who have not been transferred to the new system are neither overpaying nor underpaying. Non-resident parents currently assessed under the old scheme are still liable to pay child support for their children in accordance with the legislation that applies to them.
	We have recently appointed a new chief executive and as a priority have asked him to carry out a wide ranging review of the Agency's operations and structures. He will be reporting his findings to us in the summer and will set out his proposals to improve the Agency's performance, including the transfer of cases to the new system.

Child Support Agency

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions when he was first informed that there would not be enough storage space on the new Child Support IT system for all cases; and what action he has taken to ensure that there will be.

James Plaskitt: The administration of the Child Support Agency is a matter for the Chief Executive, Mr. Stephen Geraghty. He will write to the hon. Member with the information requested.
	Letter from Stephen Geraghty to Mr. David Laws, dated 14 July 2005
	In reply to your recent Parliamentary Question about the Child Support Agency the Secretary of State promised a substantive reply from the Chief Executive.
	You asked the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, when he was first informed that there would not be enough storage space on the new Child Support IT system for all cases; and what action he has taken to ensure that there will be.
	The new IT system (CS2) will have sufficient storage space for all cases, and we are not aware of any storage capacity limitations that will affect the Child Support Agency's ability to support its caseload on the new system.
	I hope that you find this answer useful.

Child Support Agency

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what progress there has been in agreeing a clear definition of system availability for the new child support system with EDS.

James Plaskitt: The administration of the Child Support Agency is a matter for the chief executive, Mr. Stephen Geraghty. He will write to the hon. Member with the information requested.
	Letter from Stephen Geraghty to Mr. David Laws, dated 14 July 2005
	In reply to your recent Parliamentary Question about the Child Support Agency the Secretary of State promised a substantive reply from the Chief Executive.
	You asked the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what problems there have been agreeing a clear definition of system availability for the new child support system with EDS.
	System availability is covered clearly in the Child Support Reform contract between the Department and EDS. Within that contract reference is made to when the system is not available. Unavailability" is defined as users being unable to access the system or unable to work correctly because the system is not working to agreed specification (requirements). The system" is defined as all of the listed components of the EDS IT solution for Child Support Reform.
	I hope you find this response helpful.

Council Tax Benefit

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what plans the Government has to reform council tax benefit; and if he will make a statement.

James Plaskitt: We need to consider the findings of the Lyons Inquiry into Local Government Funding, which is due to report later this year, but we certainly want to ensure that help with council tax is made easier for individuals to access.

Crisis Loans

Lynne Featherstone: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the average time scale is for dealing with crisis loan applications; and if he will make a statement.

James Plaskitt: The actual average clearance time for crisis loans in 2004–05 was 1.3 working days. This is within the current internal target of clearing crisis loans within an average of two working days. The minimum clearance time that can be recorded is one day.

Crisis Loans

Michael Connarty: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will increase staffing and resources to administer the new centralised system of telephone applications for crisis loans.

James Plaskitt: The administration of Jobcentre Plus is a matter for the acting chief executive, Lesley Strathie. She will write to the hon. Member with the information requested.
	Letter from Lesley Strathie to Mr. Michael Connarty, dated 14 July 2005
	The Secretary of State has asked me to reply to your question concerning whether staffing and resources will be increased to administer the new centralised system of telephone applications for Social Fund Crisis Loans. This is something that falls within the responsibilities delegated to me as acting Chief Executive of Jobcentre Plus.
	There are no plans to increase resources, as dealing with Crisis Loans by telephone is no more expensive than the previous method of interview in person. Managers are expected to ensure that sufficient staff are deployed on telephone lines to meet required demand and to provide the facility for face to face interviews for people who do not wish to use the telephone.
	For the future, we are designing a standard operating model, which will specify common procedures, technology and resources for all aspects of Social Fund delivery, and this will take account of fluctuating demand.
	I hope this is helpful.

Earnings-related Pensions

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions pursuant to his answer of 14 June 2005, Official Report, column 260W on earnings-related pensions, 
	(1)  what assumptions he made about (a) income brought to account for pension credit and (b) pension credit take up in projecting the future cost of pension credit;
	(2)  what the estimated costs (a) in real terms and (b) as a percentage of gross domestic product are of (i)the basic state pension, (ii) Serps/S2P, (iii) pension credit and (iv) other pension benefits in (A) 2010, (B)2020, (C) 2030, (D) 2040 and (E) 2050, consistent with the projections of extra cost.

Stephen Timms: The information is in the table.
	For the purposes of pension credit estimates pensioner incomes are assumed to rise in line with earnings in the long-term. Take-up rates of pension credit are held constant from 2009 onwards within demographic group (defined by age, gender and marital status).
	
		Change in expenditure for over 65's (Great Britain only)
		
			  2010 2020 2030 2040 2050 
		
		
			 Basic state pension (extra costs) 18 38 69 109 151 
			 Percentage GDP 1.3 2.1 3.2 4.2 4.7 
			 Pension credit (savings) 8 12 19 27 37 
			 Percentage GDP 0.5 0.7 0.9 1.1 1.2 
			 Winter fuel payments (savings) 1 1 2 2 2 
			 Percentage GDP 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.1 
			 Total additional expenditure 10 25 50 80 113 
			 Percentage GDP 0.7 1.4 2.3 3.1 3.5 
		
	
	Notes:
	1.This table shows a breakdown of additional costs or savings.
	2.Figures are in £ billion in 2005–06 price terms, and consistent with 2005 budget long term assumptions.
	3.Totals may not sum due to rounding
	4.No change in expenditure is assumed to occur in the State Second Pension.
	5.Long term projections of expenditure (for the United Kingdom) on pensioners under the current system are published on the departmental internet site.

Gangmasters

Jim Sheridan: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions 
	(1)  what assessment has been undertaken of Operation Gangmaster since the introduction of the Gangmasters (Licensing) Act 2004; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  whether the responsibility for Operation Gangmaster will be transferred to the Gangmasters Licensing Authority established under the Gangmasters (Licensing) Act 2004;
	(3)  how many investigations there have been into second stage processing carried out by Operation Gangmaster since its establishment;
	(4)  how many labour providers in second stage processing have been (a) investigated, (b) arrested and charged and (c) convicted for offences under Operation Gangmaster since its establishment.

James Plaskitt: A full evaluation of Operation Gangmaster was completed in April 2004, and operational evaluations are regularly carried out. We have no plans to transfer the responsibility for Operation Gangmaster to the Gangmasters Licensing Authority.
	There are no offences directly related to Operation Gangmaster. Any enforcement action is taken under legislation available to participating departments. In the last year three labour providers have been arrested. Two have been charged with facilitation offences but have not yet appeared before the courts. One has been convicted for benefit fraud offences. Operation Gangmaster does not make any distinction between first and second stage processing.

Housing Benefit

Danny Alexander: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many claimants have received local housing allowance through pathfinder pilots; and how many of these received the allowance at a protected rate to prevent them receiving a lower amount than under their previous entitlement to housing benefit.

James Plaskitt: As at February 2005, around 44,700 claimants had their benefit assessed under the local housing allowance scheme. Out of these, 1,200 received a protected rate.

Housing Benefit

Paul Goodman: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions 
	(1)  what assessment he has made of whether private sector landlords in the housing benefit pathfinders have reduced the rents which they charge in order (a) to secure more tenants and (b) to keep existing tenants; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  how many and what percentage of those living in the private rented sector and receiving housing benefit directly have built up arrears in rental payments in the pathfinder areas;
	(3)  what assessment he has made of the effects of the introduction of (a) local housing allowance and (b) direct payments in the housing benefit pathfinder areas on private sector landlords' participation in the market; and if he will make a statement;
	(4)  what assessment he has made of whether people moved to housing benefit pathfinder areas to take advantage of local housing allowances; and if he will make a statement.

James Plaskitt: The Department has commissioned a comprehensive, independent evaluation of the local housing allowance (LHA) pathfinders. This will provide information on the impact of the LHA, and the reactions of claimants and landlords to the LHA and direct payments.
	The first interim findings of the evaluation are being published over the summer and the results of the final evaluation will be published at the end of next year.
	In April we published Delivering the Local Housing Allowance: A summary of the early experiences of implementing the Local Housing Allowance in the nine Pathfinder areas" reporting on the operational experience after six months of live running of the LHA. A copy is available in the Library.
	Further reports and summaries covering the early experiences of claimants and landlords will be published shortly.

Housing Benefit

Paul Goodman: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many and what percentage of housing benefit payments have been made direct to landlords in each of the nine pathfinder areas.

James Plaskitt: Information for housing benefits payments made direct to landlords in each of the nine pathfinder areas is not available. The information is available for local housing allowance claimants only, and is shown in the table.
	
		Local housing allowance (LHA) payments made direct to landlords in each pathfinder area and as a percentage ofLHA payments
		
			  Number Percentage 
		
		
			 Blackpool 1,362 17 
			 Brighton and Hove 995 12 
			 Conwy 251 13 
			 Coventry 184 5 
			 Edinburgh 575 10 
			 Leeds 775 13 
			 Lewisham 413 11 
			 NE Lincolnshire 630 15 
			 Teignbridge 125 7 
			 All pathfinders 5,310 12 
		
	
	Source:
	DWP administrative data for pathfinder areas. February 2005

Housing Benefit

Paul Goodman: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what impact the introduction of the local housing allowances in the housing benefit pathfinders has had on the average length of time taken to process new claims.

James Plaskitt: Isolating the impact of the local housing allowances on the average length of time taken to process new claims is not possible as processing times are influenced by a number of factors many of which are independent of the local housing allowance.
	Average processing times in the private rented sector have been improving in the majority of Pathfinder areas since the introduction of the local housing allowance,
	as shown in the table.
	There has been some reduction in the average processing times for all local authorities in the recent periods compared to the annual average in 2003–04.
	
		Average processing times for private sector new claims in Pathfinder areas and across all LA's -- Calendar days
		
			  Private new claim 
			 Pathfinder area 2003–04 2004–05 
		
		
			 Blackpool 32 26 
			 Brighton and Hove 35 35 
			 Conwy 44 33 
			 Coventry 63 57 
			 Edinburgh 107 90 
			 Leeds 33 80 
			 Lewisham 54 36 
			 North East Lincolnshire 53 36 
			 Teignbridge 42 33 
			 All LAs ( including non-pathfinder) 58 52 
		
	
	Notes:
	1.The reported averages are weighted averages (by new claim workload).
	2.The 2003–04 average figures for Pathfinder areas are derived from all four quarters data.
	3.The 2004–05 average figures for Pathfinder areas are derived from first three quarters data. Fourth quarter data is not yet available.
	4.Leeds recently had problems with its software system which had a negative impact on the processing times for 2004–05.
	5.Wherever data is missing, we have used the figures available nearest to that quarter.
	6.Private sector claims includes local housing allowance (LHA) and non LHA deregulated claims and regulated new claims (excludes housing association new claims)
	Source:
	DWP administrative data for Pathfinder areas and HBMIS.

Housing Benefit

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how the Department intends to increase the quality of communication between claimants, landlords and housing benefit offices in the pathfinders areas.

James Plaskitt: The Department has developed a communications strategy for all Pathfinders which sets out best practices for communication with key stakeholders such as landlords. The strategy includes DWP branded products such as landlord fact sheets and landlord newsletters, which pathfinder local authorities can distribute where appropriate.

Housing Benefit

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions why local housing allowances cannot be paid via Post Office card accounts.

James Plaskitt: The Post Office card account is a simple account with very limited functions. It was specifically designed to receive payments of benefits and pensions administered by central Government.
	Local housing allowance is paid by local authorities. The customer is responsible for paying rent to their landlord and this may be more or less than the allowance. The Post Office card account does not have a facility for the account holder to make payments to a third party by standing order, so is not a suitable account to receive payments of local housing allowance.

Housing Benefit

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what steps the Department is taking to ensure accountability and impartiality on the part of those who make the final decisions concerning vulnerability requests for local housing allowance.

James Plaskitt: Local authorities develop and use local policies to help determine whether a tenant is capable of taking the responsibility to receive their local housing allowance and to then make the necessary arrangements to pay their rent to the landlord. If following representation from a tenant or someone on their behalf, the local authority decides that direct payments to a tenant are not appropriate the local authority will then pay the eligible rent directly to the landlord. The policies used are based on guidelines produced by the Department and in many cases are developed and operated in conjunction with local advice agencies.
	Local authorities make these decisions based on information and evidence produced by the tenant or those working on their behalf. The local authority is accountable for the decisions it makes, which are also subject to appeal.

Incapacity Benefit

Jim Cousins: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the (a) notional size and (b) relationship to notional incapacity benefit levels of the proposed rehabilitation support and disability support allowances as set out in the estimates and calculations of the future of incapacity benefits consultation paper is.

Margaret Hodge: We intend to publish a Green Paper setting out our proposals for the future of welfare to work support for people with health conditions and disabilities later this year. This will reflect the proposals in the Consultation Paper. However, the structure and rates for any new benefit have not yet been determined.

Jobseeker's Allowance

Julie Morgan: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people aged over 50 years claimed jobseeker's allowance in financial years (a) 2001–02, (b) 2002–03, (c) 2003–04 and (d) 2004–05; how many of these (i) were eligible for new deal 50 plus and (ii) participated in new deal 50 plus; and what percentage of claimants (A) remained on jobseeker's allowance (B) found work (C) moved onto income support and (D) moved onto incapacity benefit in each case.

James Plaskitt: The information is not available in the form requested. The available information is in the following tables.
	
		Jobseeker's allowance claimants aged 50 and overby duration of claim(37)
		
			  All claimants Under six months Six months and over(38) 
		
		
			 2001–02 400,100 238,200 161,900 
			 2002–03 393,200 235,600 157,600 
			 2003–04 379,600 227,100 152,600 
			 2004–05 340,700 199,100 141,600 
		
	
	(37)If the claim has ended in the year, age has been calculated at the end of the claim. If the claim is ongoing at the end of the year, age has been calculated at the end of the year.
	(38)People who have been claiming jobseeker's allowance for six months or more are eligible for new deal 50 plus. Additionally around 15 per cent. of those people claiming jobseeker's allowance for less than six months may also be eligible for new deal 50 plus as a result of another qualifying benefit claim preceding their jobseeker's allowance claim.
	Notes:
	1.Figures are for Great Britain and are rounded to the nearest 100, totals may not sum due to rounding.
	2.Years are defined as 1 March to 28/29 February in each year.
	3.A person is only counted once each year regardless of how many times they have flowed on and off jobseeker's allowance in that year, but they may appear in more than one year. The claim with the longest duration within each year has been used.
	4.Due to late notification of commencements on the jobseeker's allowance payment system (JSAPS) for the most recent quarter i.e. to the end of February 2005, the total number of claims for 2004–05 can be expected to increase.
	5.Durations for claims that have not ended by the end of the relevant financial year have been calculated at that point in time. Due to only having data up to the end of February 2005, the number of claimants in the six months and over category is an underestimate for the 2004–05 year i.e. anyone starting after 1 September 2004 whose claim is still live at the year end has had a duration of less than six months calculated. As more data comes in over the following months the durations of these claims will become over six months.
	Source:
	Department for Work and Pensions Information Directorate. 5 per cent. samples subject to a degree of sampling variation.
	
		Number of people moving into employment throughnew deal 50 plus
		
			   April to March  People claiming employment credit(39) People moving into work through new deal 50 plus(40) 
		
		
			 2001–02 33,950 — 
			 2002–03 31,080 — 
			 2003–04 — 22,160 
			 2004–05 — 17,070 
		
	
	(39)Until April 2003 new deal 50 plus figures were measured in terms of employment credit starts. Those with gross personal income of more than £15,000 a year were not entitled to the employment credit on entering work.
	(40)On 6 April 2003 the new deal 50 plus employment credit was replaced by the back to work element of the working tax credit. Figures do not include people claiming the back to work element of working tax credit who have not had assistance from jobcentre plus.
	Source:
	Information Directorate, DWP

Parliamentary Questions

David Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions when he will reply to question reference 5234 tabled by the hon. Member for Monmouth on 14 June.

James Plaskitt: A reply was given to the hon. Member on 6 July 2005, Official Report, column 483W.

Pathways to Work Pilots

Frank Field: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will list the reports that (a) have been and (b) are scheduled to be published as part of the evaluation of the Pathways to Work pilots.

Margaret Hodge: The Department has published the following reports as part of the evaluation of the Pathways to Work pilots.
	Incapacity Benefit Reforms—Early findings from qualitative research", the National Centre for Social Research, DWP report no. 202 (published September 2004). Incapacity Benefit Reforms—The Personal Adviser Role and Practices", the National Centre for Social Research, DWP report no. 212 (published November 2004). IB Reforms Pilot: Findings from a longitudinal panel of clients", Social Policy Research Unit, DWP report no. 259 (published 7 July 2005).
	These reports are available in the Library.
	The Department is scheduled to publish another report in September 2005:
	Incapacity Benefit Reforms—The Personal Adviser Role and Practices—stage 2", the National Centre for Social Research.
	The programme of evaluation continues through until 2008. Further reports will be published in the DWP research series.

Pension Protection Fund

Richard Burden: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what assessment he has made of the impact of Pension Protection Fund regulations on the incomes of members of schemes affected who have taken early retirement.

Stephen Timms: The Pension Protection Fund provides 90 per cent. level of compensation for those members who, immediately before the assessment date, are under the scheme's normal pension age. This includes early retirees. However, those members who took early retirement, but have then reached the scheme's normal pension age before the assessment date, will receive 100 per cent. level of compensation.
	The compensation cap applies to all members who receive 90 per cent. level of compensation. The compensation cap is age related and is currently £27,777.78 at age 65 (effectively £25,000 at 90 per cent. level). The compensation cap is adjusted, according to age, in accordance with actuarial factors published by the Board of the PPF.
	We have based this split on those over and under the scheme's normal pension age because we believe those over that age are less likely to be able to make good or cope with a sudden reduction in income. We also considered it would be unfair if, for example, two members of the same age (e.g. 58 years) received different levels of compensation simply because one member chose to take early retirement while the other chose to continue to work.
	The compensation members receive from the PPF may not be equivalent to the pension they may have been expecting to receive from the scheme. However, it is important to remember that PPF compensation is effectively an emergency backstop that only takes effect when the scheme's sponsoring employer or employers have become insolvent and when the scheme itself can not afford to pay benefits at the same level as the PPF.
	It is also true that in previous years should a pension scheme have to wind up underfunded the scheme's current pensioners had first claim to the assets of the scheme. This was advantageous to pensioners but in some cases led to all other members of the scheme (including those just a few years or even months from retirement) losing almost all of their pension. This was a situation that became worse the more a scheme was in deficit when it was wound up. This was frequently criticised and perceived as unfair.
	We believe the PPF levels of compensation strike the right balance between the amount of compensation payable and the amount that would be required to be paid into the PPF via the levies. In total, more money will be paid out by the PPF than could have been paid by the scheme.
	There are two groups of individuals who, regardless of age, are not subject to the 90 per cent. compensation level; individuals who, before the assessment date, are already in receipt of a survivors' pension and those in receipt of an early pension on the grounds of ill health.

Pension Service/Benefits Agency

Si�n James: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what recent assessment has been made of customer service performance at the Swansea Pension Service Centre; and if he will make a statement.

Stephen Timms: The most recent assessment of customer service at Swansea pension centre, in May 2005, found that over 95 per cent. of customers contacted as part of a monthly survey were either satisfied or very satisfied with the service they had received.

Pension Service/Benefits Agency

Danny Alexander: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many open days have been held in the last 12 months for staff and volunteers of independent advice services providing assistance to claimants by (a) the Benefits Agency and (b) the Pensions Service; how many people have attended such open days; and if he will make a statement on (i)feedback received and (ii) resultant action.

Stephen Timms: Jobcentre Plus, which brought together the Benefits Agency and the Employment Service in 2002, conducts approximately 1,560 open days over a 12month period. These vary widely in size and target audience but are all aimed at getting people back to work, either by helping them look for the right types of employment or to provide the more practical help they may need when finding a job. Local service teams of the Pension Service have attended a number of local events with staff and volunteers from independent advice services, aimed at maximising take-up of benefits and services for older people. Detailed information on the number of open days held by Jobcentre Plus or the Pension Service, the number of people attending and feedback obtained is not held centrally.

Pensioners/Benefits

Julie Morgan: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the cost has been to public funds of (a) the winter fuel payment, (b) free TV licences for the over 75s, (c) the pension credit and (d) increases in the state pension was in each year since 199798.

Stephen Timms: The information is in the table1, 2
	1 Figures for (a), (c) and (d) are for Great Britain. Figures for (b) are for the United Kingdom. With the exception of free TV licences for the over-75s, benefit expenditure in Northern Ireland is the responsibility of the Northern Ireland Social Security Agency.
	2 Figures are rounded to the nearest million.
	
		 million, cash terms(41)
		
			  (a) Winter fuel payment(42) (b) Free TV licences for the over-75s (c) Pension credit(43) (d) Increases in the state pension4, 5, 6 
		
		
			 199798 191  3,773  
			 199899 194  3,619  
			 19992000 759  3,781  
			 200001 1,749 306 4,095  
			 200102 1,681 365 4,486 1,294 
			 200203 1,705 374 4,484 2,199 
			 200304 1,935 405 4,935 2,622 
			 200405 1,953 427 6,051 2,732 
		
	
	(41)Includes 100 over-80s payment from 200304.
	(42)199799income support for pensioners; 1999 to 2000 October 2003(43)Figures are calculated by comparing what would have happened if basic state pension had been increased in line with the retail prices index since 1997 with what actually happened.
	(44)Expenditure on state pensions will have risen for other reasons including a growing population, improved contributions records and the gradual maturing of past policy changes. These effects are not included in the figures as they would have occurred had 1997 policies been continued.
	(45)Additional spending on the state second pension over the period, other than due to factors given under 6 above, is negligible.
	(46)Benefit expenditure information is published on the internet at http://www.dwp.gov.uk/asd/asd4/expenditure.asp
	Sources:
	(a), (b) and (c): DWP benefit expenditure tables, Budget 2005; (d) basic state pension forecasting model. The figure for 200304 free TV licences for the over-75s, shown in the table, is a revised one subsequent to Budget 2005 DWP benefit expenditure information being published.

Pensioners/Benefits

Patrick McFadden: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many state retirement pensioners there are in Wolverhampton, South-East; and what percentage this is of the total electorate in the constituency.

Stephen Timms: As at 31 September 2004, there were 13,100 recipients of the state pension in the Wolverhampton, South-East parliamentary constituency of whom 5,100 were males and 8,000 were females. This represents around 24 per cent. of the electorate.
	Notes:
	1.Recipient figures are taken from a 5 per cent. sample and are therefore subject to a high degree of sampling variation.
	2.Parliamentary constituencies are assigned by matching postcodes against the relevant Office for National Statistics postcode directory.
	Sources:
	1.Number of recipientsIAD Information Centre, 5 per cent. sample as at September 2004.
	2.2005 electoral dataWolverhampton city council's website.

Pensioners/Benefits

Jimmy Hood: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people in the Lanark and Hamilton East constituency received a state pension in 2005; and if he will make a statement.

Stephen Timms: As the Lanark and Hamilton East constituency came into being at the last general election, statistical information on benefit entitlements of its constituents is not yet available.

Pensioners/Benefits

Julie Morgan: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions by how much the state pension has risen in each financial year since 199798.

Stephen Timms: The information is in the following table:
	
		
			 Uprating date(April each year) Standard rate of basic state pension () Basic state pension percentage increase on previous year Additional state pension percentage increase on previous year 
		
		
			 1997 62.45 2.1 2.1 
			 1998 64.70 3.6 3.6 
			 1999 66.75 3.2 3.2 
			 2000 67.50 1.1 1.1 
			 2001 72.50 7.4 3.3 
			 2002 75.50 4.1 1.7 
			 2003 77.45 2.6 1.7 
			 2004 79.60 2.8 2.8 
			 2005 82.05 3.1 3.1 
		
	
	Note:
	Increases in the rate of the basic state pension are rounded to the nearest 5 pence.

Pensions

Linda Riordan: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will make a statement on the discussions he has had with trade unions on public sector workers' pensions; and if he will make a statement.

Stephen Timms: My right hon. Friend has had no discussions with trade unions about public service pensions. Negotiations on public sector pensions are a matter for my right hon. Friends the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, the Chief Secretary to the Treasury and the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry.

Pensions

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how much money has been saved in each year since 2001 through starting retirement pension payday on the Monday after a person's birthday rather than on the birthday itself; and if he will make a statement.

Stephen Timms: There have been no overall savings under the current regulations which provide for the payment of state pension in whole weeks at the start and end of a claim.
	If payment were to have been made for part weeks at the start of a claim only, and there had been no recovery of overpaid benefit at the end of a claim, we estimate additional expenditure of up to 20 million would have been incurred in each year since 2001.

Regulated Tenancies

Gisela Stuart: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions whether local housing allowance (a) applies and (b) is planned to apply to regulated tenancies.

James Plaskitt: The local housing allowance currently applies only to claimants in the deregulated private sector. We have no plans to include regulated tenancies in the scheme.

Return to Work

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what steps he is taking to encourage (a) unemployed people and (b) people on income support to return to work; and if he will make a statement.

James Plaskitt: Since 1997 the Government's priority has been to tackle the scourge of unemployment, inactivity and poverty through investment in, and reform of, the welfare state. The UK now has one of the strongest labour markets in the world, with the best combination of employment and unemployment of the major world economies. More people are moving from welfare back into work with employment up almost 200,000 in the last year and by over 2 million since 1997. With more people in jobs than ever before, we now spend 5 billion less on unemployment benefits than we did in 1997.
	A central part of our strategy is to ensure that work pays, establishing a real incentive for people to move off benefit and into work.
	The national minimum wage was introduced in April 1999 as part of our overall strategy, establishing minimum standards of pay in the labour market. In October 2004 the minimum wage was increased from 4.50 per hour to 4.85 for workers aged 22 and over and from 3.80 per hour to 4.10 per hour for people aged 1821 inclusive.
	Building on the success of working families' tax credit (WFTC), disabled person's tax credit and the children's tax credit, from April 2003 the Government introduced two new tax credits, the child tax credit (CTC) and the working tax credit (WTC). Entitlement to the tax credits is based on the particular circumstances of an individual or family.
	The adviser discretion fund was introduced in July 2001, giving jobcentre plus advisers direct access to funds to remove immediate barriers to employment and thus help people move quickly into work. In addition, from October 2003, access to the fund was further extended to all incapacity benefit customers in Pathways to Work pilot areas from the first day of their claim.
	Job grant was also introduced in October 2004 to help people manage until they receive their first wages. It replaced both the lone parents run-on and the original job grant schemes.
	Additionally the housing benefit and council tax benefit extended payments allow maximum housing benefit and council tax benefit to continue for the first four weeks after starting work. Help with mortgage interest in the first four weeks of employment may also be available through mortgage interest run-on in the income-related benefits.
	Today, Britain is working again. We are transforming the welfare state from a passive one-size-fits-all model to an active system that delivers both rights and responsibilities, tailoring help to the individual and providing the support and incentives people need to move from welfare and into work.

Tax Credit (Overpayments)

Jim Cousins: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many adjustments of (a) council tax benefit and (b) housing benefit payments have resulted from corrected overpayments of tax credit; and what research is being carried out on (i) the number, (ii) costs and (iii) effects of such adjustments.

James Plaskitt: It is the actual amount of a tax credit award that is in payment that is taken into account when assessing entitlement to housing benefit and council tax benefit. There is, therefore, no retrospective reassessment of those benefits because a tax credit award has been overpaid during a past period.
	The housing benefit or council tax benefit claim does, however, need to be reassessed if the amount of a tax credit changes because, for example, of an overpayment of the tax credit. This is to ensure that housing benefit or council tax benefit takes account of the actual amount of tax credit in payment.
	No assessment has been made of the cost implications to local authorities of readjusting payments of housing benefit or council tax benefit because of the correction of an overpaid tax credit award. This is because such a change is only one of many that may mean a housing benefit or council tax benefit claim needs to be reassessed. However, local authorities have received additional administration subsidy in recognition of the ongoing costs to local authorities of administering claims which include tax credits.